Whether you’re looking for reasons to date your spouse, dealing with deployment issues, needing to apologize, wondering about the benefits of “the letter,” or just wanting a good laugh, there’s something here for you! Today’s Friday Five is a compilation of articles I love because they offer great advice, made me chuckle or (bonus!) both.
1. Are you dealing with deployment or long separations from your spouse? 51 Tips for Deployment, Homecoming nd Everything in Between is an article that can be found on Jo, My Gosh blog. In addition to the send-off and the return, it offers suggestions for dealing with the absence of a spouse and for care packages. The site is loaded with other helpful information for military spouses and offers a free copy of The Ultimate Care Package Guide.
2. Never underestimate the power of a letter. Letters That Changed Our World, an article in Parade Magazine written by Liz Welch, gives heartfelt examples of how letters made a difference. It’s easy to overlook that there is a second page (hit “Next” at the bottom of the post), but that’s where you will find additional reasons to write letters as well as a link that gives a brief “how-to” with letter-writing tips. You might also find a previous post, How to Write a Love Letter to Your Spouse – And Why You Should helpful.
3. Stop using the kids as a reason you can’t make date night with your spouse happen. 5 Reasons Your Kids Should See You Date Your Spouse, guest-written by Steve Pare on True Agape blog, sets forth some compelling reasons why when you have kids it’s even more important to prioritize dating your spouse. The result in doing so? You benefit, your spouse benefits and the kids benefit – the ultimate win-win-win!
4. When delivering an apology, keep it real. How do you do that? Gina Barreca, columnist for the Hartford Courant and one of my favorite humorists, spells it out in her article To Apologize, What Makes it Real? The article is also helpful if you have already offered a needed apology, but it wasn’t well-received – it’s possible your delivery could use some improvement.
5. Maybe the changes in your marriage are a good thing. Funny guy Aaron Traister is at it again in his Redbook article 8 Signs Your Marriage Has Changed. You may recognize you and your spouse in a couple of his examples and decide, hmmmm, maybe these changes aren’t so bad after all! If you can ignore the rude, unrelated “reading recommendation” plopped into the post, this article will leave you chuckling!
Excellent links, thanks Shel 🙂
Thanks, Sherri – hopefully a little something for everyone!
What a great collection of info! Food for thought on the apology one, too.
I agree, Luanne. I certainly have given the non-apology numerous times – “I’m sorry you feel that way,” or “I’m sorry what I said upset you.” While I agree that is an ineffective apology, I have to admit that sometimes (such as when I don’t think an apology is due) I am saying exactly what I mean!
Great information here, Shel. Thanks for the links too. I’m a big fan of letter writing.
Me, too, Jill. And a bigger fan of receiving them – it’s like getting a gift!
Love this one! Love the writers in 4 and 5, too!
Me, too – even though Gina’s article wasn’t funny, I can’t hear her name without visualizing her bit on bathing suits!
Excellent post, Shel. Especially 4 and 5, and the links to articles.
Those two just crack me up! I know the apology article wasn’t humorous, but even when the woman isn’t being funny, she has a way with words!