How to Make Moral Decisions

How can a couple discern God’s will when making moral decisions? That’s a critical question in any marriage. Moral decision-making is a process that includes prayerful reflection, conversation, and evaluation before reaching a conclusion. Here are some specific steps.

Balancing Family and Work

“I want to be a good husband or wife, and a good father or mother. But work seems to suck everything out of me. How do I do justice to both?” During uncertain economic times, couples can be even more tempted to sacrifice family life for work. How can they strike a balance?

When Your Marriage Hits the Boredom Rut

The Dilemma After 16 years of marriage Bill and Betty find themselves in the marital doldrums. Although neither would say it openly, each feels their marriage has become lackluster and is in a rut. “Boring” was how Bill explained it to his closest friend. Although Bill and Betty have two children who keep them busy, [...]

Marriage Rx

All relationships need help from time to time. Each article in Marriage Rx will discuss the symptoms of a common but perplexing problem and offer a prescription to keep your marriage healthy. The Empty Nest, by Judy Clark Resolving Differences, by Kathy Beirne Parenting Teens, by Lynda Madison Career Conflicts, by Susan Vogt Remarriage, by [...]

Marriage Resource Center

Recreation

The Situation If there is a rock wall to climb nearby, Bob will be there. Any snow-covered slope is a potential cross country ski run. Bike rides and a gym workout are his way to have fun. Christine, on the other hand, loves to use her free time to snuggle up with a good book [...]

Personality Differences

The Situation John is outgoing and can talk easily to almost anyone. Sarah is more reserved and prefers socializing in small groups. She finds herself hurt and uncomfortable when John makes the rounds at parties, leaving her to fend for herself. He can’t understand why she prefers the wallflower approach. Darrell is practical and pays [...]

Household Duties

The Situation It’s not just the ‘uns’ that irritated Heidi: the unmade bed, the un-emptied dishwasher, the un-folded laundry. It was the fact that Sam had been home all day and was asleep when she returned from her extra weekend shift at the hospital. She was tired and resentful and felt that he hadn’t done [...]

The Marital Sexual Relationship

What initially begins as a positive and rewarding sexual relationship in a committed couple’s marriage can slowly diminish in sexual desire and frequency. Making time for intimacy between the demands of work and family.

Yours, Mine, Ours

Surveys identify money as one of the top issues over which couples have conflicts. Therefore, developing a couple-style of managing money is crucial to the health of a marriage. If a couple can’t work through their money issues together, the relationship will face problems of distrust, resentment and insecurity.

Career Conflicts

Julie and Jason recently welcomed a new daughter into their life. Julie is finding it hard to imagine leaving when her three month maternity leave is up. But Jason knows their mortgage is based on both of them working full time.

How Much Does Faith Matter?

It certainly is painful when something important, indeed something core to one’s being like faith, is not shared by your spouse. It is difficult enough when a spouse belongs to a different faith tradition, but even more so when he or she not only rejects organized religion, but also does not seem to value a spiritual life.

Resolving Differences

We have only been married a short time, and things are going pretty well between us, but something that concerns me is that we don’t really solve problems. One of us raises an issue, we talk about it a little, and then we let it drop. What worries me is that eventually, when we have a real problem we can’t avoid, we won’t know how to deal with it. Are there any strategies for a couple like us to use?

Interfering In-Laws

Even in the most blissful of marriages, the interference of in-laws can bring tension and arguments. Here are some strategies for addressing these issues.

The Empty Nest

Empty Nest couples, like Tom and Maribeth, are called to new choices, more freedoms, and new ways of loving each other in this grace filled stage of marriage.

Parenting to Beat the Bedtime Blues

Our daughter Mary just won’t stay in bed. We vacillate between comforting Mary, demanding that she go back to bed, and criticizing each other’s parenting style. It’s beginning to wear on our relationship. What can we do to preserve our sanity and get a little quality time with each other at night?

Remarrying Well with Children

Sam (45) and Sally (37) have been married for 2-1/2 years. It’s a second marriage for both. Sam was married at 20, divorced at 35 and has done co-parenting with his ex-wife for a number of years. Sam brings two children from his first marriage, ages 14 and 12.

When Teens Know One Parent Will Say Yes

We have been happily married for fifteen years and believe we have handled most of our parenting well, but now our fourteen year old daughter’s drive for independence often causes us to argue. When she wants to go to a party or to the mall with her friends, my husband and I react differently, in ways that surprise both of us.