All Posts By

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott

Jul 15
Love0
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My Spouse is a Sore Loser. I’m Tired of Competing!

By Recreation No Comments

Shared activities are a great opportunity to bond with your spouse, enjoy time together, and deepen your relationship. But what happens when your spouse is highly competitive? If your husband or wife tends to be a “sore loser,” how do you navigate that? Most people love winning, but not everyone is highly competitive. For a competitive personality, winning is the whole point of the game. It’s not fun for them unless their fellow players are locked in fierce competition. They love the thrill of going after that win and (proverbially) fighting it out till the end. Some competitive individuals have…

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Jul 08
Love0
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Can You Like Your Spouse Without Being in Love With Them?

By Intimacy, Marriage No Comments

“I like my spouse. I’m just not sure I’m in love with them anymore.” Have you ever questioned how deeply you love your spouse? You like them as a person, and you have love for them. It’s still fulfilling and enjoyable to spend time together. But sometimes, you question whether you’re still “in love.” If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. Many couples experience ebbs and flows in their emotions over time. Our feelings can shift with life circumstances and major changes. Let’s talk about what can cause feelings to change, and how to navigate these tricky emotions. When…

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Jul 01
Love0
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Help, My Spouse is Always So Distant!

By Intimacy 2 Comments

Every afternoon, you arrive home from work excited to see your spouse and share your day with her. You get home about an hour before she does, so you routinely start dinner. That way, there will be plenty of time to connect and catch up while you share a meal. The problem is, your spouse gets home and collapses on the couch. She switches on the TV and zones out. Rather than sharing dinner together, you end up eating it in front of your favorite show. This might be fine once in a while, if only you didn’t feel so…

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Jun 24
Love0
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All My Spouse Does is Complain. What’s the Deal?

By Marriage No Comments

Lately, you’ve noticed that your spouse seems to complain more than usual. In fact, most of your interactions involve questioning, complaints, or discontentment they never expressed before. What’s going on? There are many reasons why a spouse might complain. You might have experienced a major change in your life, or they could be facing a midlife crisis. Maybe there’s a circumstance that feels out of their control, and they’re not sure how to find a solution. Whatever the case, it’s important to examine the situation and look for ways to work together toward resolution. Major Life Change Going through major…

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Jun 17
Love0
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We Need Marriage Counseling, But My Spouse Is Afraid to Go. What Now?

By Self Reflection No Comments

If your spouse is unwilling or afraid to go to marriage counseling, what can you do? It’s not uncommon for at least one spouse to resist counseling, at least at first. Reasons can range from fear and denial to unwillingness to participate. Sometimes, one spouse may feel counseling is unnecessary, while the other sees a need for help. You can’t make your spouse attend counseling with you, but you can begin working on your own wellbeing. Often, people ask whether solo counseling will do any good. But here’s the great news: going to counseling on your own can do a…

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Jun 10
Love0
My Spouse Seems Depressed. What Should I Say Symbis-Blog-900x200-meme

My Spouse Seems Depressed. What Should I Say?

By Marriage One Comment

Lately, you’ve noticed something seems different about your spouse. They’re not their usual selves. Maybe they’re sleeping a lot more, or a lot less, than usual. Perhaps you’ve noticed a change in their appetite. Maybe they’re suddenly skipping all their favorite activities. When you think back, you realize the shift has been happening over time. At first, you brushed it off. But it didn’t get better; in fact, it seems to be getting worse. You’re starting to think that your spouse may have depression. But how can you know? And what can you say or do to help them? Take…

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Jun 03
Love0
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I Feel So Lonely in My Marriage. What Can I Do?

By Marriage 3 Comments

Are you struggling with loneliness or social isolation in your marriage? It’s not that your spouse is absent or neglectful. In fact, the two of you enjoy spending time together. But despite date nights and shared activities, you still find yourself wishing for more companionship. Maybe you’ve talked to your spouse about how you’re feeling already, but they don’t quite understand where you’re coming from. Loneliness can affect one or both partners in a marriage at different stages of life, or during different seasons. Knowing how to address these feelings, both individually and as a couple, is the key to…

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May 27
Love0
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Marriage Mentorship Roundup: How to Guide Couples to Better Love

By Marriage No Comments

Are you dedicated to helping couples strengthen their marriages? Whether you’re new to marriage mentoring or want to refine your approach, we’ve compiled some tools and resources to help you. You’re a resource for the couples you work with; therefore, seeking support for yourselves is critical. Let’s take a look at a few articles and books that will get you started. Resources for Marriage Mentors 5 Tips for Effectively Mentoring Another Married Couple If you’re dedicated to mentoring couples, knowing what makes a mentor effective pays dividends. From setting appropriate boundaries to letting your mentees learn from their mistakes, there…

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May 20
Love0
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Help! My Spouse Pays More Attention to My In-Laws Than to Me

By In-laws & Family No Comments

Are you competing with your in-laws for your spouse’s attention? Many married couples experience this friction, especially when it comes to your relationship with your in-laws. How much time spent with parents is too much? And on the flip side, how much time and attention can you rightfully demand from your spouse? Relationships are important, especially because family creates part of the essential support system every person needs. No one can thrive without community. Still, if you and your spouse are at odds over how much attention the in-laws get, it’s worth digging deeper. If your spouse feels compelled to…

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May 13
Love0
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How Can I Get My Spouse to Meet My High Expectations?

By Marriage No Comments

“I have high expectations. Is that so wrong?” Whether they’re spoken or unspoken, expectations play an ongoing role in marriage. Everyone has a list of expectations for their marriage, even if they don’t admit it. Sometimes, the list is unspoken or unconscious. We don’t even know we have a list of unspoken rules until this person we married begins to break ours. Funny enough, we become very conscious of our own expectations when our spouse doesn’t meet them. Still, we might have no idea what they expect from us. In many scenarios, expectations create disappointment, which can eventually lead to…

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