My wife, Susan, and I recently kicked around some things husbands should stop doing. Here are some at the top of the list. First, stop telling your wife you understand what she’s feeling when you haven’t listened to what she’s saying. Susan has helped me with this one. At times, I think I’ve heard her but really haven’t understood her. Second, when your wife shares a problem she’s having, stop trying to solve it....

All men make mistakes, but a wise man learns from his mistakes. So today, I’d like to share with you a few common mistakes men make in life that we can all learn from and avoid. First, men often make the mistake of not listening well. And a lack of listening leads to a lack of trust in relationships. Second, there’s the mistake of thinking we don’t need any help. But, in reality, accepting help demonstrates a...

If you made, but already abandoned, your New Year’s Resolutions, you’re not alone. But research shows that people who specifically identify a goal, and are resolved to achieve that goal, are 10 times more likely to attain it than people who don’t. So let’s apply that to your marriage. Pick one simple new thing to do this year to improve your marriage and commit to making it a habit. For example: Ask your spouse,...

Unfaithfulness in marriage has severe consequences. In the blink of an eye, all trust and security can be lost. So instead of just hoping it doesn’t happen to you, take these precautions to protect your marriage. First, create practical boundaries. This means drawing a line for what appropriate interactions with the opposite sex look like and then staying a safe distance behind that line. Second, find someone who...

Speed bumps on the road are designed to slow us down. In the same way, as we speed through life, there are natural speed bumps that tell us that we need to slow down, take notice and focus on our relationships with others…especially our kids. Here are a couple of bumps we should be on the lookout for. First, there’s often a speed bump when our kids hit puberty. As their bodies and minds change, we must slow down...

It’s not just the decisions themselves that impact your family; it’s also how you go about making them. Healthy decisions tend to be the ones that are made using a healthy process. Be committed to the principle that no big decision should be made without the full input and consideration of your spouse. Decisions made without a spouse’s input communicate, “I don’t value or need your opinion and perspective…I got...

When it comes to discipline, parents so often equate firmness with harshness. But the two are completely different. Firmness says that a boundary is secure and won’t be crossed without a consequence. But harshness uses angry words and intimidation to intentionally scare a child into submission.  So how can you discipline firmly without being harsh? First, show less emotion.  This will help your child focus on...