Articles
What Will You Give Up for More Connection in Your Marriage?
Posted on January 15, 2012 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
“We can go for two weeks without having a conversation about anything besides operations,” Shari told me. “After school I drive the kids to their activities, we grab dinner and then it’s supervise homework and bedtime.”
To Shari and Craig, their life feels like a runaway train. The best they can do is hold on tight …
Is Your Partner Unhappy with You? Stay in the Game
Posted on December 11, 2011 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
What are the hardest moments for you in your relationship? Is it when your husband seems more in love with his devices than with you? Or when your wife seems to take all your long, hard hours at the office for granted?
For me, it would have to be when my husband is unhappy with me, …
Why Do Women Have More Resentment?
Posted on November 20, 2011 Filed Under Communication, Taming Stress | Leave a Comment
It’s not that men don’t get resentful. They do, of course, but usually not as much and not for as long. Does your husband complain that you have an “elephant memory”? He’s right! We remember emotional events from the past better than men do and we replay them in our minds more often. Why is …
Bring Back Home Ec!
Posted on September 28, 2011 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
One of the many mysteries of my education in the Seattle Public Schools was eggs-a-la-goldenrod. The appeal of hard-cooked egg whites in white sauce, poured over toast, and garnished with a sprinkling of sieved egg yolks was difficult for me to grasp. However, my junior high home ec teacher assured us our future husbands would …
Something Old, Something New for Your Marriage
Posted on May 10, 2011 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
“You have to work at your marriage every day.” I’m sure you’ve heard people say this. Sometimes my own clients tell me this. I know what they mean. But I have a confession.
The idea of working on my marriage every day feels like a real downer. When you’re going through a time of stress, marriage …
Connection in Marriage is Simple (But Your Fears Make It Endlessly Complicated)
Posted on April 19, 2011 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
When Your Marriage Drives You Insane
Posted on April 19, 2011 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
Now, whenever I do something the slightest bit annoying, John will rush at me with a crazed expression and roar, “YOU DRIVE ME INSANE!”
Okay, I overreacted.
It was kind of embarrassing, actually. Clearly, I needed a way to find a little more patience when John does those things.
When Marriage Problems Build Up, Here’s How to Break the Ice
Posted on February 14, 2011 Filed Under Communication, Taming Stress | Leave a Comment
Does this problem ring a bell? You’re nursing a grievance. You didn’t bring it up at the moment because there was too much going on. Or you were afraid things would go south. Or you thought maybe it was one of those times in a marriage when you should just cut your partner slack and …
Marriage Advice: Build a Strong Bond with Emotional Desires
Posted on January 9, 2011 Filed Under Communication | Leave a Comment
When I was a little girl, we used to play Hide the Thimble with my grandmother. The rule was you had to hide it “in plain sight.” A thimble hidden in plain sight is surprisingly hard to find! Especially if you put it against something silver-colored. The end of the T.V. antenna was my favorite …
Relationship Advice for Women Who Love Engineers
Posted on December 17, 2010 Filed Under Communication | 1 Comment
Women, you know what happens when you confide your troubles to your girlfriend. She drops everything and listens. She understands exactly what you’re going through, tells you your feelings are completely natural, and you end up having a good laugh. In other words, you get empathy, big time. It’s wonderful! You feel so much better! …
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