Category

In-laws & Family

Summer Dreams: Why You Should Unplug and Go On An Adventure Together

By Communication, In-laws & Family, Time 8 Comments

Summertime and adventure go hand in hand. Oftentimes, family vacations ramp up this time of year–and what cherished times those can be. Today, though, we are talking about the importance of taking some time away with your spouse to unplug and go on your own summer adventure together. When we think of adventure, we often believe it has to be an extended time and needs to take place in some far-off land. If that is something you can swing, great–but it doesn’t have to be a roadblock. You can have adventures  halfway across the world or even in very own…

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Extended Conflict: 5 Tips for Overcoming a Stalemate

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection 14 Comments

Inevitably, you and your spouse will run into issues you can’t agree on that will lead to friction in your relationship. Instead of letting conflict simmer, unresolved–where it will eventually burn up your relationship–allow it to shed light. It’s frustrating and painful to get locked in a stalemate with your spouse…the one person you really don’t want to disagree with. Here are 5 tips for overcoming an unresolved conflict in your marriage. Don’t Avoid Conflict In the short run, it’s very easy to avoid conflict. But long-term, it can be damaging–so you can’t ignore issues, especially if you’ve reached a…

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Clash of Careers: Whose Is More Important?

By Careers, Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection, Time No Comments

Our career pursuits can sometimes clash. Whose career should take priority? When you and your spouse are both very passionate about the future, your career, and your dreams (both individual and shared), those things can sometimes collide.What do you do when that happens? Whose career and dreams should take precedence? In marriage, it’s important to negotiate a shared relationship–because when the goals and dreams of two people in a marriage clash, things can get very complicated. Today, we’re talking about ways to work together through conflicting career goals. Goals often require one spouse to sacrifice on the other’s behalf. Even…

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Frazzled Mom, Exhausted Wife: What to Do When Everyone NEEDS You

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection, Time 17 Comments

Being a wife and a mom is one of life’s greatest joys. Partnering with your husband to raise a family is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling role; however, it’s challenging all at the same time. The role of a wife and mom is not only a huge blessing, but a huge responsibility–and it can leave you completely WORN OUT. The kids have fifteen different places they need to be and, on top of all that, they have a mile-long list of school supplies waiting to be purchased and thrown into their backpacks. Your husband’s working late, and needs you to set…

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How to Respond When In-Laws Reject You

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family 362 Comments

What can I do if my in-laws don’t accept me? When someone withholds their blessing from you, that hurts. You feel rejected and “not good enough.” And when your in-laws are the people who have rejected you, the pain can feel almost unbearable. In today’s video, we’re discussing how to respond when your in-laws have rejected you. Not only is it hurtful to you that your spouse’s parents (or other relatives) have made it clear that they don’t approve of (or even like) you; it’s also devastating because it creates distance between your spouse and their family. Everyone is human…

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Modern Partnerships: Marriage in Today’s Culture

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection No Comments

Are more couples moving away from the traditional model of marriage and towards a partnership? In our experience, the ways individual couples function is something that is completely unique to every couple. This isn’t necessarily in the traditional or theological sense; rather, it’s about the dynamic that each couple settles on that works best for them. In today’s video, we’re discussing different relationship dynamics, and how couples tend to settle on whatever works best for them. Through third-party research and our own observation, we’ve seen three common relationship models: The peer marriage, where the spouses are partners who divvy up…

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What to Do When a Spouse Lies

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family

When you’ve caught someone in lies, it’s natural to doubt almost everything they say. And when that someone happens to be your spouse, the sense of betrayal is even more profound. How can you rebuild trust when your spouse has lied to you? Reasons Spouses Lie There are many reasons your spouse may be dishonest with you. Maybe they’re not fully coming clean because: They have already disappointed you, and they’re afraid of your reaction; They promised to change a pattern, and they haven’t; They promised to get something done, but didn’t…even though they meant to. People often lie not…

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Panic Monster: How to Help Your Spouse When Anxiety Hits

By Communication, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection 11 Comments

Anxiety. Most of us have been there: an issue that–to the outside world–seems arguably small balloons into a crushing, suffocating weight. Our hearts race. Our palms sweat. We descend into a spiraling panic, and find that it’s difficult (and even hopeless) to stop the feeling of dread building inside our chests. Most of us know what anxiety feels like when it’s happening to us, but it can be difficult to know how to help someone we love when they are being riddled with it. It’s easy to feel at a loss, not knowing what to do or say. Can’t they…

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Ending the In-Law Comparison Game

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection No Comments

How do I get my husband to stop holding my parents to the same financial standards as his parents? So your in-laws have gifted you with something very nice, or very expensive. Let’s say it’s a large sum of money to go toward a down payment on a home for you and your spouse. What happens when your parents can’t match the same contribution your in-laws have made? And how do you handle it when your spouse holds your parents to the same financial standards as his or her parents? In today’s video, we’re discussing strategies for ending the in-law…

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How to Choose the Right Church for Your Family

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Scripture, Self Reflection 6 Comments

We are looking for a new church. What suggestions do you have for choosing a church together? Finding a place to worship together can be a major challenge for you and your spouse. It’s not just about finding the right place for yourself as an individual; it’s about finding a place of worship that’s right for both of you (and your children also, if you have them). While you might not necessarily seek a congregation as a consumer, you still have to find that happy medium that works for your entire family–and that will take some careful consideration, observation, and…

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