Whether you find yourself single, married or somewhere in between, trying to build a healthy, lasting relationship isn’t always easy. It takes time and hard work. Furthermore, it requires a level of introspection that actually makes most people uncomfortable. But the more we are willing and able to take a closer look at who we are and how we move through the world, the more … [Read more...]
Here’s the Real Reason Why Your Partner Doesn’t Treat You Well
One of the most important lessons we want our kids to know is that you teach people how to treat you. It sounds so simple, but it’s so true. The interactions we have during those first few dates is what sets the tone for what we will allow in our lives and what we have no interest in dealing with. And when we aren’t treated well in life, we tend to point all our fingers at … [Read more...]
5 Useful Tips to Help Couples Cope with Life’s Bad and Unexpected Moments
What makes life interesting is also what makes life so painful at times; we are never certain what’s around the corner. The cornerstone of our existence as human beings is that life is unpredictable. Things happen that we didn’t anticipate, and how we react and cope determines the quality of our lives. If you know a married couple that’s been married for a long time, they … [Read more...]
Ughh, She’s Always Bragging About Her Relationship; 4 Reasons to Stop Hating!
No one likes a bragger. Even when our kids brag, we pull them to the side to explain why it’s not the best way to express excitement about something. It can be a hard concept for kids to get, but we expect better from adults. We expect adults to remain humble and spare us from all the talk about how amazing their life is. But is it possible that sometimes we are wrong? That … [Read more...]
Not Getting Any From Your Wife? 5 Reasons Why (and What You Can Do)
We’ve all seen and laughed at sitcoms with the same old storyline. The husband messes up, the wife gets annoyed, and her revenge involves a promise to deny him what he seems to want most: sex. It’s hilarious when we see it on television, but what happens when that sitcom becomes your life? It’s not so funny anymore. Using intimacy as a way to express anger or frustration … [Read more...]
Want a Happier Marriage? 7 Things that Will Take Your Marriage from Stressed to Blessed
Years ago, someone told me that being happily married was overrated because marriage is not about happiness. They shared that marriage was about a partnership and building a stable family...What? That’s it? We can’t do those things and be happy? I was confused then, and I’m still confused now. Why would anyone commit to spending a lifetime with another person if you both … [Read more...]
Your Kids are Watching. 5 Imperative Habits They Should See from You in Your Marriage
Nothing brings your strengths and flaws to light like becoming a parent. My kids remind me every day that they are watching everything I do. They appreciate the moments when I get things right, and they see the moments when I don’t. Every. Single. Moment. They may not say a thing, but I know they see it all. And although my relationship with my husband isn’t about my kids, … [Read more...]
Ladies, If He Doesn’t Pass This 9-Question Test, You Can’t Claim He’s “The One”
Once you think you’ve found “the one,” you feel like you are on cloud nine. Knowing that you’ve met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with is amazing! You know how people always say, “I just knew,” when it comes to figuring out if someone is “the one.” Well I think there is some truth to that, but it’s actually a little more involved. I think the man you’re … [Read more...]
6 Character Flaws That Should Make You Question if You Are with the Right Man
I think I get on my husband’s nerves sometimes. You know what else? He gets on mine, too. The truth is we are all flawed. There is no perfect person or perfect marriage. We all make mistakes, we all have bad habits, and we all have moments where we could (and should) do better. Yet, despite these realities, some flaws should never be ignored. I believe that a few annoying … [Read more...]
Listen Up, Singles. These 5 Decisions Are WAY More Important Than the Decision To Get Married
The decision to get married is one of the most important decisions you will make in your entire life. Don’t you agree? I do. It was a decision I made with great care, and I am so grateful that after almost eight years, I still feel like I married the right guy. But as important as that decision was, I can’t sit here and tell you that it’s the most important decision I have … [Read more...]
The One Decision That Can Make You a Better Mom and Wife
As an adult, I look at my mother and wonder how she did it all. A woman who raised us with just a fraction of the resources I have access to (and I don’t just mean financially), how did she do it? But then I remember that although we turned out well, my mom is paying the price today for putting everyone’s needs in front of her own. Her struggles with depression and her … [Read more...]
3 Major Issues Your Spouse Could Be Hiding from You; Discover Them Before It’s Too Late
A strong marriage is built on a foundation of trust. When you don’t trust your spouse, everything else in your marriage suffers. And once trust is lost, it is hard to rebuild—not impossible, but definitely hard. And when people think of the loss of trust in a marriage, thoughts typically turn to issues around infidelity. And while infidelity is a real issue many couples … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Why Your Kids Can’t Be Your Only Reason for Staying in an Unhappy Marriage
I recently had a long conversation with a friend about relationship troubles, raising kids and the decision to stay or leave. She seemed to be facing so much confusion about the choices she needed to make. I felt empathy for her because I can only imagine how hard it is to decide if you should stay with the man you have kids with or leave because you simply are not happy with … [Read more...]
3 Truths You Need to Accept if You Want Your Man to Change
Isn’t it funny how we always want people to change? Yet, we sometimes struggle with changing the simplest things about ourselves, like what time we wake up or what we do when a family member tries to start drama. And I’m guilty of it, too. I have wasted countless hours figuring out how to get someone to change, wondering why he or she won’t change, praying for him or her to … [Read more...]
A Woman Admits She Married for Security. But Is It Ever Okay to Settle for a Mate?
Most people marry for true love and companionship. Those are two of the main reasons I got married. But we all know that isn’t always the case. Some people get married even when the love isn’t there. Many get married because they feel like time isn’t on their side, and they are tired of waiting. Others do it because they want to start a family. And of course, there are … [Read more...]