“Connecting practices? You mean like playing with the toys?” No, that would be K’nex (Don’t worry – I didn’t know it was spelled that way either). I am talking about normal practices that you have with your spouse, your kids, or even your grandkids. For example – do you and your spouse kiss each other…
Remember when you were dating your future spouse and you seemed to agree on everything? You wanted two children and so did he. You both liked Italian food, wanted to travel, enjoyed hiking, and had the same spiritual goals. Nothing could be better. However, once you got married, you discovered that you weren’t quite as…
In a quote from a Fortune Magazine article, William H. Whyte said, “The great enemy of communication is the illusion of it.” That is an excellent picture of what so many individuals fall prey to. Your spouse wants you to communicate, so you make every effort to talk more with them. However, even though you…
I remember when this phrase was all the rage as part of an advertising campaign for “The National Enquirer Magazine.” And I can’t help but remember that phrase when I think about healthy relationships. You see, one of the hallmarks of healthy marriages is having an inquisitive mind when it comes to your mate. Whether…
The answer for a lot of people is probably, “I don’t know. I try not to get outside of my comfort zone.” If that is really true, then we are probably not doing much growing. But think for a minute – “What is outside of your safe space?” A common one for people is public…
I sit with couples on a regular basis who argue and fight. They tell about their conflicts at home and they frequently live those conflicts out in my office. Fortunately, when they are sitting with me, I am often able to redirect them or get them to pause their thinking and consider other possibilities. When…
Many, if not most people, seem to find a mate that is different than they are. They may have qualities that are completely opposite of their own, which is no surprise. You see, we are frequently attracted to what we don’t have. For example, a person who is an introvert may be attracted to a…
The answer for a lot of people is probably, “I don’t know. I try not to get outside of my comfort zone.” If that is really true, then we are probably not doing much growing. But think for a minute – “What is outside of your safe space?” A common one for people is public…
I recently met with a client who is experiencing some struggles in his marriage. While the struggles aren’t easy, he doesn’t see them as insurmountable because he states with confidence that he and his wife are, and always have been, best friends. Some couples started out as friends before dating, while others began dating, getting…
I see many couples in my office who are in the middle of the tornado. By that I mean, they have school age children at home; they both work full-time; then they have to take one kid to gymnastics and the other one to soccer practice. The weekend comes and there are soccer games to…