Search Results for: blog do you give expecting something in return

How Many Times Do I Have To Ask You?

If you have ever had to ask your toddler more than once to do something, you are not alone. I’m pretty sure that there are not many parents out there whose toddlers immediately respond to their every request. It can be very frustrating to ask your toddler repeatedly to do (or not do) something, only to feel like your words fall on deaf ears. There are a few reasons why toddlers do not respond to our requests the first (or second, or third) time. Fortunately, there are also a few things that we can do to encourage our toddlers to … Continue reading →

Baby Products You Don’t Need

If you are expecting your first child, you may be in the process of creating a baby registry. By now, you have probably noticed that there are so many baby products out there. You are also probably wondering which ones you really need and which you could do without. This is, of course, a matter of personal opinion. The following items are things that I think most people will be just fine without. They are items that I either did not register for or never bought after either of my sons were born. A baby bathtub was given to me, … Continue reading →

Do You See Your Marriage as a Commitment or a Contract?

This past weekend I attended a two day seminar at my church. It was a program called “Marriage on the Rock.” No, not marriage on the “rocks”…on the ROCK, as in strength and long-lasting. It was a great time of learning more about each other and ending it with a chance to renew your marriage vows. Since we just celebrated 20 years in September, it was quite fitting. One of the lessons that really stuck out to me was the whole idea of commitment. Too often instead of looking at marriage as a commitment, people tend to see it as … Continue reading →

No Expectations for Me on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Are you already setting yourself up with certain expectations? Perhaps you have dropped some hints to your spouse or come right out and said what you would like. The thing with Valentine’s Day is that it can actually become very “me” focused when it is supposed to be about the one you love. When we think about this day where we celebrate love, we should be putting effort into how we can express it toward our spouse…not what they can do for us. Personally, I don’t make a very big deal about Valentine’s … Continue reading →

It’s the Little Stuff That Causes Discord

Have you ever noticed that it’s the little stuff that can make us crazy? When I think back to the past almost 20 years of marriage, I am amazed by the huge obstacles we have overcome. It seems like we have defied odds at times and come through some pretty difficult circumstances. Yet it’s the little stuff that can creep up and become mountains. It’s the little stuff that can cause discord. We let small annoyances, pet peeves and bad habits rule our mood. Forget the fact that we overcame the loss of a child through miscarriage…my goodness, if that … Continue reading →

Do You Know Your Spouse’s Greatest Needs?

I recently got together with a friend who was sharing a secret to her happy marriage. She divulged to me the frequency of her intimate relations with her husband and how in return he met so many of her needs. Those needs weren’t physical, nor were they emotional. They were doing chores around the house. Well I can definitely attest to the fact that I would love to see the dishes emptied, the laundry thrown in or the bathroom cleaned. But does my husband know this? Or do I just assume that he knows? You see, my friend and her … Continue reading →

Are You a Ride or Die Woman?

Are you a ride or die woman? I watched an infuriating episode of Dr. Phil last week that was on this topic. A ride or die woman is basically one who stays by her man no matter what. While that sounds great and I am definitely all for keeping a marriage together, there are limits. The woman on this show was refusing to leave her husband who had cheated on her numerous times. There was also no indication that he would stop. Yet she wasn’t willing to leave him because she loves him and she didn’t want her son to … Continue reading →

Do You Give Expecting Something in Return?

I found out from watching “The View” this week that GQ magazine came out with an article about a couple who bargain for sex. He does certain chores in exchange for sex. There are a couple of ways to look at this. If you really want to find something good about it, I guess you can understand how it meets each other’s needs. She needs help around the house and he needs…well, we know the answer to that one. But why does it have to be a bargaining tool? Why can’t couples just meet each other’s needs without it being … Continue reading →

What is an HMO?

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Finding the insurance company that is right for you, and that will accept you, can be difficult. In addition to learning about what it will cost, you need to find out what kind of health insurance that company is offering you. One of the most popular forms of health insurance is something called an HMO. What is an HMO? It stands for Health Maintenance Organization. The HMO contracts specific doctors and hospitals to provide health care for a discounted price to the people who purchased the HMO insurance. The doctors and hospitals, in return, are expecting to get more patients … Continue reading →

What Love Is: Learning Long Marriage Secrets from Families.com Members

Earlier this year I committed myself to making the best of Marriage in ‘08. I planned to do that by accentuating the positive and examining tools of the trade others used in their marriages. Especially long lasting marriages. I’m still on that mission, but I’ve already learned a lot. And a lot of it has been gleaned right here from other Families.com members. A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That The very first thing I realized was actually the last of the four rules I wrote earlier this year: One Size Doesn’t Fit All. This is … Continue reading →