My wife, Susan, and I just celebrated 24 years of marriage.  After more than two decades together, you’d think we’d always have smooth sailing… but we don’t.  We both work really hard to have a great marriage.  So, why can’t we get it all together?  It’s our selfish nature… we want things from each other that we don’t always get.  She wants me to cherish, affirm and encourage her. I want her physical affection....

As you're listening to your wife explain a situation or problem, here are a couple of questions to ask yourself: "How does she feel as she’s telling me this?" and "Why is this important to her?" One of the biggest challenges in marital communication is not understanding the emotion and motive behind the message. So, the next time you're not quite following your wife's train of thought, instead of pushing her to...

It's no mystery…many women enjoy shopping as an “experience.”  On the other hand, most men shop with the "hunter" mentality…get what you need, as quickly as you can, and get back to your cave.  With these two polar opposite mindsets, shopping together can be frustrating…if you let it.  So, what’s the solution?  Look at shopping with your wife as a date…a way to spend time with her.  When you’re shopping with her,...

Benjamin Mays, mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, said “The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It isn’t a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.” His point? Set goals and work to achieve them.  No matter how discouraging...

You can’t see where you are going; you’ve lost your vision. Maybe you’ve lost your vision for your marriage. The road you were heading down with your spouse was suddenly engulfed by an affair, illness, cancer, or an addiction.  You once could see a bright future for your child, but the light has dimmed because of rebellion, drugs, or sickness.   So, what can you do?  First, pull over. Stop what you are doing for a...

School is coming to a close and that means some households will be child-free for the first time in 18 years.  For many moms, the Empty Nest Syndrome can be really difficult emotionally.  And moms who’ve invested all their time and energies into raising their children also face another challenge.  When the kids fly the coop, mom suddenly turns her affection and attention back to her husband, only to find that he’s...

Every mom desires to do her job well. But how can a mom know she’s doing it right?  And with all of the parenting options out there, how can a mother feel confident with her choices? The answer lies in a new book, The Passionate Mom, written by my wife Susan. The book shows mothers what they can start doing today to turn their passion for their children into a plan to protect them and provide them a promising...