It's tough to stay in touch with your kids when you spend most of your time at work… and they spend most of their time in the classroom. One family handles it this way: When the kids get home from school, the first thing they do—even before they head to the refrigerator—is call their father. It's not just a once-in-a-while thing. Dad puts it on his calendar… and sets that time aside every day, so he'll be free...

We had some lovebirds at our home, and I can tell you that these birds have more to offer to us than just a cute name. Lovebirds mate for life and get their name because they sit together in pairs for long periods of time, preening and cooing. These birds live in smaller communities and form relationships with other pairs. Lovebirds teach us three lessons. First, we need to be committed to our spouse for life....

These questions might help you determine the answer. Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad? Does your drinking ever make you late for work? Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't? Do you ever forget what you did while drinking? Has anyone in your family expressed concern about your drinking? If so, don't brush it off… really listen to what they have to say… and get help. Talk to your spouse,...

The male Zeus bug, a tiny water bug common along Australia's east coast, hitches a ride on the female for up to a week, counting on the female to feed him and mate with him at will. That's a bug's life. It's all take and no give. Sound familiar? Well, in the lives of humans there's a law of diminishing returns when one side always gives and the other always takes. Marriage needs to be a 100%/100%,...

Renew your wedding vows. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. You can even surprise your children. Just tell them you have something planned for this Valentine's night. When the time comes, repeat the same vows you took on your wedding day, or use different words. The point is to show each other and your kids how committed you are to your marriage. Finish up the evening showing them your wedding album...

I'm not talking about last night's dinner. I mean what we end up giving our spouse at the end of the day. We give leftover time—after too many hours at work. We give leftover affection—after loving on the kids all day. Those leftovers don't satisfy, they leave us craving more. What our spouse wants—and deserves—is our freshest and best. There are 4 ways to serve your spouse something fresh. First, post-it. Put a...

My kids have taught me a lot of things…and I can tell you, it's a very humbling experience. One thing that they've shown me over and over again is my lack of patience. For example, my impatience with the grocery store cashier during check out, or the waitress at a restaurant, and my impatience driving them to school. You get the picture! It's kind of embarrassing to admit. When they point out my impatience...