We all want our marriages to get even better. But improvement only comes when we are intentional with our words and actions with our spouse. To become more intentional, here’s a simple checklist of things to do for your wife each year.  First, take a trip alone with her.  Spending time together away from the world is the perfect way to reconnect.  Second, make a big deal about her birthday.  Instead of just...

If you’re a father, being a dad is your most important job. And in that job, it’s important to have a job description that spells out what is required of you. So, here are some essentials to being a successful dad. First, spend quantity time with your kids. How you spend your time is a reflection of what’s important to you. You value your kids by being with them, making memories that will last a lifetime.  Second,...

In the movie, Mom’s Night Out, it shows us how we can get so caught up in the do’s and don’ts of parenting, that we forget what it means to simply love our kids well.  So if you’re ready to get back to the basics, let me start by asking you a question... When was the last time you sat on the floor and played with your child?  At its core, parenting well means getting on your child’s level—whether it’s painting...

Recently, I said something to my wife that I thought was harmless…I don’t even remember what it was. I was surprised when she didn’t respond favorably. I asked her what I said wrong. She said “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it.” She couldn’t have been more correct.  How we say things are so important. When communicating with your spouse, remember your tone. Is it soft or harsh? Second, remember your...

When our expectations for our spouse become unreasonable, we are really setting our marriages up to falter and maybe even fail. Here are some unfair expectations wives should avoid. First, that he will always “Get You.” My wife, Susan, sometimes says…“You just don’t get me.” And she’s right. As a man, I don’t think like Susan and don’t always understand how she’s feeling even when I try. The second unfair...

Conflict tends to bring out the worst in people.  They can all too easily become aggressive, insulting, and hurting—leaving wounds on their family members for a long time to come.  So how can you fight fair?  Here are a few ways for your family to fight fair.  First, know when to take a break.  When things start escalating, sometimes it’s best to take a short break and walk away from the situation to calm down. ...

Most parents are extremely focused on the grades their child gets but what about how they get them? Are they cutting corners or cheating to achieve those grades? While education is obviously very important, the character and integrity our children establish should be the most important. If your child is getting an A in the classroom and an F in character, have they really learned anything of significance? What...