March 3, 2010Common Ground sheds light on four myths about marriage.
Claire Maisonneuve writes (excerpt):
Myth #1: Resolving your conflicts is the key to a happy marriage.
[The key is that partners need to feel like they are accepted for who they are and have a fundamental sense of fondness and admiration for each other.]
Myth #2: Problems of sexual desire […]
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February 28, 2010Pine Rest is presenting workshops and classes of interests to parents:
Starting March 4–Parenting With Love & Logic (March 4 - April 29): Pine Rest’s Holland Clinic presents an 8-week class for parents of children ages 6-12. Call 616/820-3780 for more information or to register.
Starting March 9–Together We Can: Support Our Kids During Divorce: Pine […]
Posted in Relationships, Finances/Tax, Something Different No Comments »
January 31, 2010The New York Daily News reveals research showing that couples who use ‘we’ are happier than those who use ‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘you.’
Sherryl Connelly writes (excerpt):
“We-ness” is a language that spouses who are better able to resolve conflicts speak, according to new study from the University of California, Berkeley.
The other good words are “our” and […]
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January 20, 2010Tiger Woods’ treatment for Sex Addiction may do for Sex Addiction awareness what OJ Simpson did for awareness of Domestic Violence. Many men are secretively lost in the cyclone of Sex Addiction. Sex addiction is insidious and progressive. It is a toxin to the soul and fabric of individuals, relationships, and our communities. Although these […]
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December 24, 2009WOOD-TV reports that Grand Rapids marriage expert/author Emerson Eggerichs is off to Iraq to visit the troops. Here’s why (excerpt):
In November, the military released statistics noting in the 2009 fiscal year alone there were more than 27,000 divorces among service members. The military says those numbers have been rising steadily since 2001.
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December 12, 2009Psychology Todaytutors men on how to apologize to a woman and maybe save a marriage along the way. [NOTE: This was written before the Tiger Woods scandal!]
Sam Margulies gives men these six elements of a proper apology to a woman(excerpt):
1. Acknowledge the Wrongful Act [”I was wrong and I am sorry.”]
2. Acknowledge that You Have […]
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December 1, 2009USA Today shows us how couples with plenty of relationship doubts get married anyway, especially those who have been living together. The articles differentiates between having cold feet and feeling more serious reservations. One of the difficulties for researchers is our ability to time-travel and forecast the divorce before the wedding.
Sharon Jayson writes […]
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November 8, 2009The New York Times shows how children of same-sex couples are doing just fine, highlighting research by Abbie E. Goldberg, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at Clark University and author of “Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children.”
Lisa Belkin writes (excerpt):
More enlightening than the similarities, however, are the differences, the most striking […]
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October 30, 2009The New York Times focuses on a different topic (Money Talks to Have Before Marriage), but includes an interesting discussion of statistical analysis and the risk of divorce.
Ron Lieber writes (excerpt):
The risk that any marriage will end in divorce is about 45 percent, according to David Popenoe, a professor of sociology emeritus at Rutgers University. […]
Posted in Divorce Grand Rapids, Relationships, Something Different No Comments »
October 22, 2009USAToday shares some of Uma Thurman’s reflection on motherhood and “Motherhood,” including struggling to balance home and work lives, and being caught outside in her nightgown.
Olivia Barker writes (excerpt):
So, then, what does motherhood mean to her?
“It’s an invitation to love. It’s the most expansive, loving experience I have ever had … humbling, beautiful” — nightgown-as-streetwear […]
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September 26, 2009CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine explain that research confirms men and women experience the same relationship very differently and that patience and humor can work better than more of the same.
Gretchen Reynolds writes (excerpt):
“It’s quite possible that he can’t respond in any other way. Our conflict styles develop over a lifetime.” So don’t […]
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September 25, 2009Brides magazine summarizes five rules for getting and keeping a great marriage. Then it adds a few words about having plenty of sex.
Lexi Dwyer writes (excerpt):
1. Do things together. . . .
2. But also do things separately. . . .
3. Don’t diss. . . .
4. Maintain a united front. . . .
5. Fight fairly. […]
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July 30, 2009CNN and Parenting.com gives us 11 tips on how to save your marriage from your kids
Teri Cettina’s list includes (excerpt):
Create warm welcomes
Try 20-minute reconnects
Set early bedtimes
Share the load
Encourage your kids’ independence
Revive your past
Put sex on your schedules
Fight as if the neighbors can hear you
Remember: Dad’s way works, too
Be a cheap date
Understand the stages of marriage
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July 6, 2009The Detroit Free Press identifies the need for couples to take action, work with their marriage counselor and avoid four obstacles to a successful therapy relationship.
Alex Kecskes writes (excerpt):
1. Couples don’t have a goal in mind. They’re stuck in their own feelings about the relationship, their own blame about how their partner has wronged them, […]
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June 27, 2009CNN and Health Magazine show how making some effort leads to making your marriage last.
Kate Stinchfield explains 9 ways to a happy, healthy marriage (excerpt):
1. Watch your waistline
2. Have a financial plan
3. Figure out your family rules
4. Make sex a priority — but not a chore
5. Be flexible
6. Stay active as you age
7. Gab […]
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June 23, 2009CNN & CareerBuilder offer tips for mixing family and career.
Jason Ferrara writes (excerpt):
1. Communicate
Don’t reserve your open dialogues only for your boss. Make sure you’re talking to your family about what’s happening at work . . . .
2. Keep a master family calendar
Have one calendar that lists every family member’s schedule to prevent double-booking […]
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June 22, 2009The Wall Street Journal shows how “gatekeeper” mothers can help or hinder the involvement of fathers.
Sue Shellenbarger writes (excerpt):
Some ideas on avoiding the gatekeeping trap:
Skills training. . . . In the hospital after childbirth, Mr. Edwards already knew how to soothe his baby to sleep while his wife recuperated, a good start toward being “a […]
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June 17, 2009Attorney Mike Mastracci shares Dr. Paul Wanio’s tips for understanding guilt in divorce:
Nobody’s perfect and that’s OK.
Everyone makes mistakes, even when they’re doing their best.
Divorce is like death in that you and your children need to grieve for the losses divorce entails. Be there for your children, listen to them and try to […]
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June 13, 2009Dr. Deborah Hecker.com/ published tips for living together separately after the divorce; many suggestions would work well for that time period when a divorce is filed or imminent but neither spouse has relocated:
Be civil and respectful at all times.
Both parties and their children must be clear that the arrangement is temporary. There can be no […]
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June 10, 2009Attorney Mike Mastracci shared 6 principles for putting your children first:
Avoid playing the blame game. Don’t blame your ex for the divorce, for lack of money, or for the loss of your home or possessions. Your problems with your spouse are adult issues that shouldn’t be aired in front of the children. Don’t use the […]
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