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Are We Scrolling by Our Relationship? (Repost)
The convenience our smartphones provide has come at a cost that we all feel. We see it when we’re out in public, with people staring at their phones rather than paying attention to their loved ones. One way of recognizing the problem with this comes from Drs. John and Julie Gottman – identifying how we make “bids” for attention from our partners. Paying attention to our cell phones makes it likely we’ll miss those bids and end up hurting each other.
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Money Matters
Let’s be honest. Money matters. When you get married, you’re not just sharing your Netflix password and your space—you’re also merging your bank accounts, bills, and spending habits. Money issues pop up all the time in married life. How you deal with finances together can make or break your happily ever after. Compatibility Counts Julie: We all have financial “baggage” or attitudes that affect our spending, from our upbringing to our personal experiences. John and I have very similar backgrounds. Coming from large families with a mom who stayed home to care for us when we were young meant that every penny counted. Neither of us were extravagant, and we were both savers. When…
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How to Resolve Disagreements in Marriage
A few years ago we saw an article with the title: How to Resolve Disagreements in Marriage, by Nina Chen, Ph.D. Here’s what Dr. Chen, a Human Development Specialist, had to say: “There is no perfect marriage. Even happy, healthy marriages involve some conflict from time to time. Conflict is a normal part of sharing life with someone else. The key is to know how to deal with disagreement and conflict in a constructive way. These steps can help: 1. Set a specific time to work on the disagreement It is very important to discuss problems when both spouses can mentally and emotionally prepare. Writing down the problem before discussion…
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3 Steps to Restore Sexual Intimacy
Whoever said the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach might have flunked anatomy or maybe geography. Sexual intimacy is a key component of a healthy marriage, and it has its challenges in every stage of life. When we hit a dry spell, we have used 3 steps to restore our sexual intimacy and avoid the slippery slope.
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Someday Your Children Will Leave Home
“Someday, all of you children will leave home, and Dad and I will still be here. It is important that we still know each other when that day comes.” “Why Can’t We Go?” Karen: This sentence was included in the eulogy I delivered at my mom’s funeral this past week. I recalled how mom married very young (seventeen!) and had six children in quick succession. To provide for our quickly growing family, my dad worked two jobs. Most of the parenting duties and family management were heaped on mom. And though those duties filled her days to the brim, mom never stopped being a wife. I recall many times watching…
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Go Anywhere, Do Anything
Chris: Over Memorial Day weekend, Michelle and I went wheeling in Moab, Utah, earning some Jeep badges along the way. We realized that some of the best off-road advice can be applied to our marriage. Here is our top five. Michelle: Number Five-Things will get gnarly. Moab is known for some of the best and trickiest off-road trails. But things can go from a calm day in nature to gnarly, real quick. We have learned that the same is true in our relationship. We have had a lot of smooth adventures in our marriage. But the true test of us comes from how we pull together when life does not…
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You’re the Inspiration
There’s a cheesy ‘80s song by Chicago called “You’re the Inspiration.” It was the wedding dance of thousands of couples in the 80s. Now that the song is in your head, what are the words you remember? Probably… “You’re the meaning in my life. You’re in the inspiration…”
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Memorial Day 2025
We at The Couples Post are grateful to all of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives to preserve the freedom we all share in the United States. Please join us in praying for them and their family members this Memorial Day. We remember and honor them all.
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Everything We Need to Know We Learned…From a Baby?
Grandparenthood has been all we dreamed it would be – and more. We have loved every moment! Our grandson is nearly 7 months old and changing rapidly. He is learning new things every day. As he lay peacefully sleeping in my arms recharging his little batteries, it dawned on me that he isn’t the only one learning. In many ways, the student has become the teacher. We have learned so much from our little guy!
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Hangry?
The challenges of caring for young grandchildren can cause stress and exhaustion, which can strain a relationship. It's important to recognize triggers that impact patience and communication. Empathy, forgiveness, and the importance of healing are important in times of stress.
