How To Tell Your Mate The Truth – Honesty vs. Just Plain Mean
‘Brutal’ and ‘honesty’ don’t have to go together. Being truthful should not be synonymous with being mean. With that in mind, how do we answer those difficult questions from our spouses? The questions on topics that you know your mate is sensitive about? And yet the questions call for, and your spouse deserves, honest...
Prenuptial Agreements – Planning to Fail or Failing to Plan?
The topic of prenuptial agreements can be divisive. Whether called prenuptial agreement, ante-nuptial agreement, or marital agreement, it is actually a contract entered into by the bride and groom to-be prior to marriage to set forth terms regarding property and/or alimony issues in the event of divorce or death. Does it seem counter-intuitive...
Honor Their Father – Father’s Day Gifts for Your Mate
We’re down to the wire on getting a good Father’s Day gift. The traditional shirt and tie gifts from the past don’t work for many in this casual age we live in. The kids got Dad the fun gadgets already, so what’s left for you to celebrate the great dad you’re married to? ...
Smile-Power in Marriage
Who are you saving your smile for? A disgruntled coworker? A parent you cut off in the drop-off lane? We use smiles in a deliberate way because we know their power. An upward twist of the lips can stop a griping employee in his tracks or ease the tension in a chaotic situation. ...
Date Your Mate – For Free! (the finale)
You’ve been dating your mate for free since (or before) March when part one of Date Your Mate was published. You revved things up with all the options provided in April’s part two. But wait – there’s more! As we head into summer, this last installment of the Date Your Mate series offers suggestions...
Anti-Grumbling Marriage
Life’s little irritations can make or break us. How we choose to deal with them affects our mates and marriages. It determines our level of contentedness. Years ago people dressed their salads with oil and vinegar and homemade dressings. Homemakers were delighted when ready-made dressings became available in stores and were awed to...
Marriage – 4 Things We Did Better in the 1950s
It was a simpler time – a gentler time. The good old days. Oh sure, life wasn’t perfect in the 1950s. Marriage wasn’t perfect in the 1950s – in spite of what was portrayed on programs like Father Knows Best and The Donna Reed Show. But there was some good stuff there that we...
Celebrate Your Child’s Mom – 5 Mother’s Day Gifts There’s Still Time to Find
If you have already assisted your child in making his mom a beautiful one-of-a-kind art project for Mother’s Day – maybe something that included spray-painted macaroni or a colorful handprint on a paper plate – know that you are not done. Oh sure, you get brownie points for helping your child have a gift...
Introverted, But Not Shy – Does Your Mate Need Space?
Does your spouse seem to hibernate every once in a while? Does your husband wander off by himself or unexpectedly shun socializing with people he usually enjoys? Does your normally chatty wife frantically wave her hand while mouthing “I’m not here” when you try to hand her the phone, leaving you to make a lame...
Marital Spats – Why it’s Crucial that YOU get the Last Word!
It is crucial to have the last word in a marital tiff. It’s control. It’s power. We all know that the one who speaks last wins. The following conversation really took place. I have removed the real names of the speakers. Not to protect anybody – I just didn’t have the time...