I was recently asked to contribute to an article for the New York Times about whether or not spouses should sleep in the same bed. Sleeping next to each other can enhance your marriage; however, how many sleepless nights should you suffer through before talking to your partner about changing your sleep style at night? Suggesting a sleep divorce may seem drastic but so is sleep deprivation. Body heat, snoring, body odor, restless leg syndrome, or simply needing space are reaso

When couples split up, everyone wants to know what happened. Friends close to the couple may say, “I thought they were so happy together,” or, “Why after so many years?” However, it’s not always the big things that cause the biggest threat. Sometimes it’s the little things; for example, the numerous times you broke a promise, didn’t show gratitude, or forgot a special occasion. In long-term relationships, the constant threat is taking your partner for granted and failing to m

The majority of people know of at least one or two people who are estranged from their family. It’s painful for all parties involved and difficult to resolve. Many things lead to estrangement; disagreements about values, divorce, violence, substance abuse, mental illness, personality disorders that were unknown, and betrayal. For the most part, affected families suffer in silence, feeling embarrassed about their loved one’s estrangement or rejection from their family. The rej

Because being a stepparent around the holidays isn't easy. More than fifty percent of children in the U.S. are raised in single-parent families. This can cause tension and stress during the holidays because kids may join their other biological parent — the one they don't live with — to celebrate. Often, this parent has another family. Blending families is never easy. In fact, the leading cause of divorce among second marriages is due to the child relationships involved. But b

No matter where you work or who you live with, you’ll experience conflict. This is especially true mid-summer; as temperatures rise, so do our tempers. Not to mention there are new transitions happening at home. In mid to late summer you begin thinking about the kids going back to school and new work schedules; often there is accompanying guilt that comes from trying to be all things to all people. For most of us, dealing with conflict is upsetting. We’re not comfortable gett

A frequent question I hear is, “Should I divorce?” How do you know when your marriage is over? It’s a difficult question and one no one can answer for you. For one couple, a cheating spouse may be the final reason. For another couple, cheating may be worked through, but the in-laws may be the reason for divorce. I usually advise couples to wait and put every ounce of energy they can into salvaging the marriage. I also ask them to think about issues: How will your children far

Parenting children is difficult, especially when parents have different forms of discipline. Parenting style is rarely talked about prior to marriage, and a couple that doesn’t experience conflict often can become distraught or frustrated when their partner has a completely different discipline approach. Marriage is a process and so is parenting. From the time your children are born your relationship with your partner changes. Although conflict between parenting styles will h