by Harriet Hairston With the divorce rates in the United States at an all time high, it's safe to say that some couples find any old excuse to get divorced, from irreconcilable differences to infidelity. Because everyone else seems to be doing it, from our neighbors to celebrities, sometimes it gets easier to drink the kool-aid and give up on marriage instead of staying put … [Read more...]
Children: Handle With Care
by Harriet Hairston So, the geniuses behind this website--Lamar and Ronnie Tyler--decided to dedicate an entire week to blended families. It was an emotional week for both our readers and the contributing writers with Lamar summing everything up in his "Lessons Learned" article. There were some parents who commented about how blessed they felt to have bonus children in … [Read more...]
No More Wasted Moments
by Harriet Hairston For those of you who don't know, my husband was in ICU over the weekend. One moment he was fine, the next moment, he was about to be hurled into eternity, all because of an imbalance in the protein levels in his bloodstream (a condition called rhabdomyolysis). No more protein shakes or supplements for Mr. Incredible. As his ICU nurse came in the … [Read more...]
30 DSC Lesson #4: For the Rest of My Life
by Harriet Hairston Here is the fourth and final lesson I've learned from the 30 Day Sex Challenge: for the rest of my life, I'll be making love to the man God blessed me with. With every meal I fix, every homework lesson I correct with our children, every hug I give, every kiss I plant, every word I speak, every breath I breathe, I have made up in my mind that I will … [Read more...]
Is There Such a Thing as Constructive Criticism?
by Harriet Hairston Ladies, raise your hands if you have ever been accused by your husband of nagging and/or criticizing him when in actuality you were just trying to help him see his shortcomings? (Don't worry...I can't see you). LOL Gentlemen, raise your hands if your wife has ever shared her observations of you with you, but it made you want to run and hide because … [Read more...]
30-DSC Lesson #3: Either Way Doesn’t Matter…As Long As It’s Nice
By Harriet Hairston Ladies and gentlemen, here is your 30 Day Sex Challenge Lesson #3: whether life is easy or rough doesn't really matter...as long as you make it nice for one another (I fully realize this link outlines Ike and Tina Turner...not necessarily the picture of a healthy marriage at all. But I love what she said during the first 45 seconds of this … [Read more...]
Cut the Small Talk…I Need a Conversation!?
by Harriet Hairston One of my favorite quotes of all time is by an anonymous author: "A wise old owl sat on an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why aren't we like that wise old bird?" So when I'm in a group of people, I don't feel the urge to talk all the time. I've learned that the more you listen, the more you … [Read more...]
30-DSC Lesson 2: Make the Music with your Mouth!
by Harriet Hairston Ladies and gentlemen, here is the 30 Day Sex Challenge Lesson #2: Make the music with your mouth! In your mouth lies the power of life and death, blessings or curses. In your mouth, ladies and gentlemen, lies the ability to make your spouse feel like a giant or a gnat. In your mouth lies the key to either lock your spouse up or free them … [Read more...]
Major on your Marriage
by Harriet Hairston When I was in college, I changed my major FIVE TIMES (but I still graduated on time, thankyouverymuch). I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Thank God I wasn't footing the bill with scholarships and the Bank of Moms and Pops, but that lack of focus could have really been detrimental to my future! Fast forward 10 years, … [Read more...]
30-DSC Lesson 1: Flexibility is the Key!
by Harriet Hairston Here is Lesson 1 from the 30 Day Sex Challenge, ladies and gentlemen...and it's not what you would think (get your minds out of the gutter...jeesh)! I'm not talking about physical dexterity, but flexibility in your plans, communication and preparation. This challenge has taught me that there is definitely more than one way to skin a cat, and … [Read more...]
Affair-Proof Your Marriage!
by Harriet Hairston I just watched a video on MSNBC that further solidified my drive to affair-proof my marriage. It was entitled "The Face of Infidelity," and although I did not agree with the nonchalant, "it's bound to happen" undertone of the vignette, I appreciated how it equipped those in marriages to watch both their words and their expectations closely. There were … [Read more...]
30 Days of Sex Challenge
by Harriet Hairston I'd like to present a challenge to all the married couples out there reading. Tara wrote an article not too long ago that discussed how often couples should have sex. She stopped short of issuing a challenge to have have sex every night for a month. Well, in case you all hadn't noticed, I'm an extremist when it comes to a lot of things. I want to … [Read more...]
FREE Giveaway: Who Are You? Book
WINNERS SELECTED: FRAN AND TIYA WE'LL BE IN CONTACT VIA EMAIL Today we're giving away a book by our own Harriet Hairston who writes for BMWK on a regular basis. If you enjoy her weekly contributions here then you'll love the book. Check this out: Seeds of hope and empowerment are sown through the words of this book. The author weaves the reader through God's original plan … [Read more...]
Single State Amnesia
by Harriet Hairston OK, somebody call a doctor, QUICK! I have a problem that must be addressed. In five years, it has progressively gotten worse and worse, and I fear that it won't be long before my brain totally succumbs to its vicious attack. I think I have SSA...Single State Amnesia! Case in point: I read an article about how gonorrhea may become incurable because … [Read more...]
Kids and Money
by Harriet Hairston I found a valuable article on Yahoo.com that gave me a starting point with concrete suggestions on how to teach my children about money. Right now, my four year old son knows that the magic is in the debit card, and that cash is used for tithes we give to the church. He hates spending money at a cash register, but loves giving it away to people he cares … [Read more...]