Category: Family

If you have been around me long you will hear me say that literacy is built on two tracks: modeling and repetition. I think there is such a thing as marriage literacy. Learning and doing what is right and good over and over again. I am grateful to have witnessed some wonderful models of marriage. One of my goals this year has been to grow my love for Gary. I got this idea last year…

Sometimes the troubles we have with our spouse are a result of our own conditioning them. Let’s talk gifts. I think it is safe to say that giving gifts to each other is a pretty risky endeavor in the early years. Depending on how that is handled it may have some long lasting effects. Perhaps the real reason couples don’t give each other gifts is: We don’t know what to give Or In our instant…

Mary, you must be scraping the bottom to think that strategic thinking and marriage go together. How unromantic. Well actually Gary would say it has been our ability to strategically think, plan and act that has gotten us through so much of the challenge and difficulty anyone’s thirty years of marriage can represent.  So consider some simple rhythms that may help you align your energy and your calendar. Because it is much better going together.…

A crucial conversation is a discussion between two or more people where (1) stakes are high, (2) opinions vary, and (3) emotions run strong and the outcome impacts their lives. Sounds like marriage doesn’t it. Here are a couple of classic conversation malfunctions between Gary and I. Phone call I am at home. It’s the end of a long day. Gary is on the other end trying to drive home in DC traffic. Gary harmlessly says something.…