Questioning couples about what guided their decision to say “yes” to marriage leads to all sorts of responses. For some, it was due to the way their partner nursed them back to health after falling ill. Some may focus on the way their partner stood up for them when they experienced trouble with a family member. Others may cite a simpler reason, such as the way their partner smiled or laughed at their jokes. Yet others may discover less traditional romantic journeys, like that

Most of us experience a rush of roughly 60,000 thoughts a day. When you consider that you respond to your partner, kids, co-workers, and strangers while all of these thoughts race in your mind, it’s no wonder you often encounter conflict, meltdowns, and end the evening feeling overwhelmed. At doctor appointments, inability to manage stress becomes part of the conversation because stress serves as the leading cause of common colds and sleepless nights - yet we can’t seem to im

As the school year begins and parents drop their child off to meet their new teacher and classmates, you anticipate a year of learning new skills and meeting new friends. School acts as your child’s primary social, academic, and overall influencer, helping your child learn and gain confidence in their ability to express themselves in socially appropriate ways. As you prepare for the school year ahead, don’t forget that the home environment serves as the largest influencer on

A classic bible verse advises that helping our brother or anyone else requires us to first remove the log from our own eye. Emotional blind spots limit our ability to recognize the personal limitations within ourselves we may be unwilling to face. These blind spots can lead us to project onto others and create a cycle cementing us in place and causing pain. We all possess these personal blind spots, and until we face them honestly, we circle about without constructing an hone

Most of us have heard of red flags in a relationship that can lead to danger, but we often avoid or overlook pink flags. Pink flags are common, especially in new relationships. Marriage therapists define them as gentle warnings that something is amiss between you and your partner; however, because they aren’t as well-defined or blatant, we push them out of our minds or find excuses to explain them away. In time, when left unattended, pink flags may transform into red flags th

Summer flew by, and now it’s time to begin preparing your children for back-to- school. The most important item on your checklist to help your child succeed with school routine is to slowly begin structuring their free time during the day. A relaxed summer has been important for your child’s emotional and physical development, but waking much earlier will be a lot easier for your child if you slowly begin your day’s activities earlier in the two weeks prior to school’s start.

Marriage experts have advised us for years to marry our best friend. More important than finding a good teammate, a spouse should be someone you feel comfortable with who has gained your total trust. Platonic marriages appeal specifically to couples who desire a relationship with their best friend to build a shared vision, share in the responsibilities for existing children, and experience all life has to offer as husband and wife. The single difference between a platonic and