I've written in the past about not letting divorce enter any portion of your marriage. Some of the best marriage advice I've ever heard is it should never be spoken, used as a threat, or even joked about. That is key to having a lasting marriage. But what happens when you've done that, and you don't like it? Or, you don't like your spouse? Is saying no to divorce and … [Read more...]
6 Things Every Woman Should Know When Dating a Man With Children
I "met" Deesha Phillywaw through her book Co-parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce. I wish I read her work before I became a co-parent. While dating a man with children, I didn't take into account certain things thoroughly discussed in the chapters of the book. For instance, I wasn't used to being someone's second priority and having to … [Read more...]
7 Mistakes Single Christian Men Make With Relationships
Where are all the good women? This is a common question many single Christian men ask. Many are frustrated with being overlooked or the fact that they feel it has been too hard to find a "quality woman of God." They hear a lot of women claiming greatness, but it isn't lining up with what they experience. Are Christian women the problem, or are these single Christian men … [Read more...]
7 Mistakes Single Christian Women Make With Relationships
There are many single Christian women out there simply frustrated with the process of dating and relationships. It can feel like there is so much unnecessary nonsense attached, and that causes some to lose hope. For those that feel this way, don't be discouraged, but be mindful of what adjustments you can make to see some improvement in that area. Here are 7 mistakes single … [Read more...]
Preparing to Become a Husband – 10 Tips For Single Men
My article, Preparing To Become A Wife - 10 Tips For Single Women, gave great tips for wives-to-be and inspired me to sit down and write out my thoughts on preparing to become a husband. In no way am I proclaiming perfection in any of these areas. But like any relationship, you have to work hard on the positives in order to become an ideal partner. Preparing to Become a … [Read more...]
Why Do Black Men Get So Defensive When I Ask About Their Income?
Dear Dr. Buckingham, I am a successful, black, single woman and I am looking for someone who matches my financial potential. I make six figures and have a good quality of life. Like so many other sisters, I am finding it more and more difficult to meet men who are on my level. I am open to dating men who do not make as much money as I do, but I am not open to dating men who … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Prevent Emotional Baggage From Ruining Your New Relationships
Initially when we meet people we meet their representative- the perfect, good behavior version of themselves. But, at what point do you meet the real person? As the relationship is growing towards monogamy and possibly marriage, when are the masks removed, allowing full disclosure to come into play? When do you meet, see and/or discuss the baggage that others carry and … [Read more...]
Seven Strategies that Saved My Marriage
I’m going to be totally honest with you: sometimes, I am annoyed when folks say they want a marriage like mine and Don’s. What they don’t know is that we experienced many ups and downs in our marriage. The 'downs' seemed to last forever. We’ve experienced the difficulties of blending a family, numerous periods of unemployment, a child going to jail, alcoholism and an emotional … [Read more...]
Don’t Just Wait on the Lord: 7 Things Christian Singles Can Do While Praying for Marriage
As a Christian, waiting on God to answer prayers can be one of the hardest things in life. You know that He has your best interest at heart, but at the same time, He doesn’t always answer in the timeframe you would desire. Praying for your potential spouse and marriage is no different. At times, it can be harder because matters of the heart are at play. You want to be patient, … [Read more...]
Don’t Be a Sucka! 5 Signs that Your Man Is Playing You for a Fool
I’ve always hated the phrase “love conquers all.” Don’t get me wrong, I am all about romance and happily ever after, but I have seem enough in my lifetime to know that love does not conquer all. Love is wonderful and magical but it isn’t enough. Have you ever heard a woman share how much she love's a man, but it's really her way of justifying his mistreatment of her. It … [Read more...]
Top 10 Things Women Love To Do On Valentine’s Day
[tps_header] Valentine’s Day is around the corner. For many, this day of love comes with some stress due to the uncertainty around gift ideas. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Honestly, it shouldn’t be that way. Expressing yourself to the woman you love should come easily. February 14th shouldn’t be about how much you spend or how many gifts you buy. It should be a … [Read more...]
5 Signs That Your New Man Doesn’t Value Your Time
When it comes to our work, we can be so protective of our time. After all, time is money and we don’t want anyone messing with our money, right? I get it. I am about my business, too, and I hate having my time wasted. But the thing is, if women can be bosses when it comes to valuing our time in business, then why do so many of us allow men to waste our time when dating? … [Read more...]
3 Major Signs That the Man You’re Dating Just Isn’t Trustworthy
Trust is the cornerstone of any good relationship. If you don’t trust your man, it’s a major problem. When I decided to get married, I did it knowing that I truly trusted my man. And I mean “for real” trust, not that fake trust when you say you trust someone but you are still trying to scroll through his text messages kind of trust. I’ve honestly never had the time or energy … [Read more...]
Fellas: 9 First Date Tips that Will Make Sure You Get a Second Date
You’re on the first date and it is going well. You know you are attracted to her and you want to impress her. But, it's hard to gauge how she is feeling about you. And so you're trying to figure out how to finesse things into a second date. Don't worry...I've got you covered. Men I am about to drop some insider dating gems on you that you should immediately add to page … [Read more...]
3 Things to Do If You Keep Attracting the Wrong Man
Finding the right person to build a life with isn’t always easy. Sure, some people luck out and meet the right person when they are young and without much drama, but for many, dating is stressful and choosing someone who’s a right fit is often hard. And for women who feel like every time they give this love thing a try they seem to end up with a loser, dating can feel like a … [Read more...]