Category: Relationship

planning tips are in a first date guide Planning a first meeting can feel both exciting and nerve-wracking, which is why many people turn to […]

I recently read two recently published books about marital abuse, especially emotional abuse, and I recommend both of them. Unlike the many written by psychologists […]

Living together can feel simpler and safer than marriage, especially if you’ve watched your parent’s marriage come to an unhappy end. But is it? Living […]

When one of you is laid off or seriously ill or grieving a parent’s recent death, both of you get stressed. So does your relationship. […]

Living together can feel simpler and safer than marriage, especially if you’ve watched your parent’s marriage come to an unhappy end. But is it? Living […]

When I get into the car with my husband, I am often frightened. And I know I am not alone. One of the most frequent […]

From a recent comment on What Should You Expect from a Husband or Wife?: I do try to assume love, but what do you do […]

Do you have a brother-in-law or sister-in-law you can count on? How about a sibling of your mother-in-law? Thank your marriage. Do you have big, […]

This is actually a great combo! Put it to good use. Revitalizing your relationship will take some effort. So would building a new life as […]

“It just struck me that hypothesizing about possible reasons for a spouse’s behavior could be seen by friends and other bystanders as making excuses for […]

Not all married couples celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you’re in one that does, or if your wife or husband could use a little boost, here […]

The best way to handle a disagreement is to avoid it. If your spouse steals the covers or if you tend to move around a […]

When you’re in a marriage, you cannot ever win a fight with your husband or wife by shouting louder, being tricky, offering more rational explanations […]

A good life includes frequent periods of what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls flow. One goal. Each step just slightly more than you were capable of yesterday. […]

If your otherwise loving marriage has been a bit disappointing lately, try this: share wishes, not complaints. A wish is an opportunity for your spouse […]

There are many reasons to marry. Beware of scope creep. I need to remind myself sometimes that I married for love, not for a better […]

My first husband and I did this entirely by accident, and now I highly recommend it, even though he did not survive to enjoy the […]

My first husband and I did this entirely by accident, and now I highly recommend it, even though he did not survive to enjoy the […]

My first husband and I did this entirely by accident, and now I highly recommend it, even though he did not survive to enjoy the […]

I’m sure you have heard of Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages. Lots of us have read the book. Others have learned the languages from magazine […]

S Snarky comments about your wife or husband never make a marriage happier or stronger…not even if you share them only with your friends. AssumeLove.com […]

When you married, your spouse seemed perfect. Since then, you’ve discovered an upsetting habit. Or she’s given up vegan for keto. Or he’s stopped exercising […]

I was reminded again last week about something a client taught me long ago. Some of us make our decisions out loud. Others don’t speak […]

I read a lot of relationship and marriage newsletters, columns, and blogs. Money issues come up a lot in them. The advice givers fall into […]

I spent over an hour reading comments this weekend on Facebook, about a letter to Miss Manners in the Washington Post. Never saw her column, […]

Tunnel vision is like looking through an empty paper towel roll. You still see things, but you don’t see all of your options. And it […]

June brings lots of anniversaries. If you’re wondering how to let your husband or wife feel your love, I want to help. Q. If I […]

Who put the government in charge of marriage? Why do we need a license to marry? Why do we need a judge to divorce? In […]

Respect is just as important as love for a healthy marriage, and maybe even more important. Contempt (the opposite of respect, reflected in eye-rolling, a […]

I received an interesting comment on my When Your Spouse Won’t Use Your Love Language post. So one spouse should just accept that their spouse […]

I thought today I might review some of the well-established basics for a healthy marriage. 1. No Terrorism Never, ever cause your spouse physical harm […]

I’m not sure why this never occurred to me when I was contemplating a divorce, so maybe it hasn’t occurred to you, either. If something’s […]

I recently read two recently published books about marital abuse, especially emotional abuse, and I recommend both of them. Unlike the many written by psychologists […]