In the honeymoon phase of a marriage, it is unlikely that either of you is thinking about how financially responsible the other is. But the topic of finances will and should come up eventually because you two are now a family and have to deal with joint expenses and create a combined budget. Don’t be…
Category: Couples
The Stress of Parenthood in a Relationship
Many couples look forward to the day they can create a family. Kids are supposed to be a joy and make their parents’ lives better. But this isn’t always the case. Being a parent is quite stressful. And as a result, it isn’t uncommon for relationships or marriage difficulties after baby to arise. That doesn’t…
Money Problems in a Relationship
Money issues between couples cause problems in any relationship or marriage. As much as a third of adults with partners indicate that money is a huge source of conflict with their partner. Thus it is no surprise that financial problems are listed among the leading cause of divorce and break-up. Key to avoiding this is…
Dealing with Anxiety in a Relationship
Thousands of individuals across the world suffer from severe anxiety. In many cases, it is manageable and may not be totally obvious. But many couples may find that having anxiety in a relationship can create significant strain. Whether it is simple dating anxiety, social anxiety, or general anxiety with life, this can create tension with…
Chase or Be Chased: The Distancer-Pursuer Relationship
After getting married, some find they have difficulty expressing their true emotions to their spouse. Much of what they learned about emotional expression may have come from experiences in their families growing up. For example, in my family, displaying any emotion besides happiness was discouraged. I was taught that if I was feeling any kind…
Nine Ways to Grow Closer to Your Partner
How do you grow closer to your partner? With the responsibilities of everyday life, it is easy to fall into a routine, especially in your relationship. Routines can create habits that are both good and bad for us. Relationship routines can be successful when they are filled with intention and love. However, you must make…
Communication Filters – Why Couples Struggle Communicating
The struggle is real. If you think your partner and you are the only two who struggle with communication in your relationship you are wrong. Communication is one of the most common challenges in marriage or partnerships. What is more challenging is that we are less effective at communicating during the most critical times –…
Butting Out of Your Relationship
“I love you, but you’re being ridiculous right now.” “I’m sorry you’re hurt, but what I said was true.” “I’m sorry for what I said about your parents, but they were driving me crazy.” “I shouldn’t have done that, but you shouldn’t have said what you did.” All of these statements are ones you may…
When the ONES We Love Don’t Love the ONE We Love
We’ve all hoped that we strike a good in-law deal, that our parents accept our fiancé/e, and that our life-long friends will be excited about our newest love interest. From the 16th century tale of Romeo and Juliet to the modern theme of the Spice Girls (“If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get…
Careful Confiders and Caring Confidants
Close friends and family are often the first line of support people go to when experiencing relationship difficulties. When things get hard in a marriage or with a girl/boy-friend, it is really nice to have someone to talk to about it. While there may be limits on how much information is too much information, usually…