Skip to main content
Category

Family & Friends

4 Underrated Ways to be a Great Wedding Guest

Underrated Ways to Be a Great Wedding Guest

By Family & Friends4 Comments

Wedding season is upon us. Maybe you’re in the phase where it seems like everyone you know is getting hitched, and your weekends are booked. Maybe you’re at the tail end or completely out of that stage, with only a random wedding here and there. Wherever you’re at in this progression, it’s safe to say that being a wedding guest is a much different experience than being the ones getting married. You might think your only job is to show up, and that’s not totally wrong. But you can do better! Here are 4 underrated ways to be a great wedding guest: Read More

Marital Decisions - Who Gets a Say

Marital Decisions: Who Gets a Say?

By Family & Friends2 Comments

As a couple, you and your spouse will face countless decisions. From the minor yet incessant “What’s for dinner?”, to momentous yet infrequent ones like “Should we move for this job?” The choices you’ll have to make together fall on both ends of this spectrum, and everywhere in between.

Sometimes the choice is easy. One or both of you have the knowledge that’s necessary to make a smart and informed decision, and you’re aligned on the desired outcome and the path to get there. Done and done. Other times, it’s not so cut and dry. Maybe you and your spouse are new homeowners facing some unavoidable repairs. Neither of you has much experience or insight on the topic, but your father-in-law is a contractor. How much should his opinion weigh in your decision? Or perhaps you have a very close relationship with your parents and like to consult with them on most of your bigger decisions. How much say do they get? How much is too much? What factors complicate these dynamics? What should your end goal be? Let’s explore. Read More

Investing in the Marriages Around You

Investing in the Marriages Around You

By Family & Friends, ResilienceOne Comment

They say “no man is an island,” and no marriage is either. Your marriage is affected by everything around you, which includes the attitudes and values placed on marriage by those in your circle and the communities you’re part of.

Think about it. If you surround yourself with friends who are constantly devaluing their spouse, or you never had an example of a healthy marriage growing up, there’s a good chance your attitudes toward your spouse and marriage will be influenced. If your employer or your church doesn’t offer much support for marriage and family, that’s another message that you might begin to internalize.

Of course, the opposite is true as well. Surrounding yourself with people who support and champion marriage can have a positive effect on your own. Plus, it’s reciprocal, which means when you invest in their marriages, you’re perpetuating this cycle.

Okay, so how do you actually invest in others’ marriages?

When you invest in your own marriage, you prioritize your relationship and put in the care and effort to make it last a lifetime. While you can’t necessarily strengthen other couples’ marriages for them, you can help and empower them to do it on their own. Here are some examples and opportunities to consider: Read More

Making a Game Plan for Family Events

Making a Game Plan for Family Events

By Family & Friends3 Comments

Family reunions, holiday gatherings, Sunday dinners, special occasions. For most couples, family events are a normal part of your life together. Whether you’re nervously meeting each other’s family for the first time, or you’ve known them forever, whether you get along great or there’s some tension, whether you see them weekly or every few years, one thing is certain: navigating family events isn’t always easy.

It seems straightforward enough. Go to said event, spend time with family, go home. But families in general are rarely that simple. Complicated dynamics, unspoken rules, outspoken relatives – these are just a few of the factors that can lead to awkward moments, tension, or even conflict with family members and even your spouse.

While you can’t predict or prevent everything that’s going to happen, you can make a game plan to ensure you and your spouse are on the same page. Here are some things to consider before, during, and after the event. Read More

Smiling young couple friends hanging out in cafe cropped to show only faces

Nurturing Friendships Through All Seasons of Life

By Family & Friends2 Comments

There was a time in your life – maybe not even that long ago, or maybe you’re still in it – when spending time with friends came naturally and with minimal effort. With just a simple call or text, you could meet up with hardly a moment’s notice. You saw your friends often, with little planning required.

At some point, things change. People move away, get married, focus on careers, have children. You have more responsibilities, demands on your time, and are simply busy with your own lives. It gets more and more difficult to stay connected. That being said, those friendships outside of your marriage are still important, even when they take more effort. Let’s explore some tips and reminders on nurturing those relationships no matter what season of life you’re in. Read More

Couple warming hands by the fire in front of cabin surrounded by snow

4 Ways to Prioritize Your Marriage During the Holidays

By Connection, Family & Friends, Quality Time3 Comments

During this festive time of year, there’s a lot of emphasis on spending time with others – extended family, friends, neighbors, etc. It might feel strange to put your spouse first – but it shouldn’t! Your marriage deserves to be prioritized year-round. Wondering how you can keep it top-of-mind with so much going on? We’ve got some tips to share. Read More

6 Reasons to Have a Weekly Family Meeting

6 Reasons to Have a Weekly Family Meeting

By Family & Friends, Parenting5 Comments

Did you have family meetings when you were a kid? Were they a regular occurrence or only when there was a crisis or situation that warranted it? Depending on your experience, your feelings about them might range from fond memories to dread. But the truth is, family meetings don’t have to be something tied to negative connotations or memories for your own family.

Establishing a weekly family meeting can have a lot of great benefits for both individual members and the family as a whole. Here are 6 reasons to start one: Read More

Family celebrating holidays

Your Family or Mine: Reaching Compromise on Holiday Celebrations

By Conflict, Family & Friends2 Comments

The holidays are a-knocking. Are you and your spouse ready to answer the door? Or are you hiding in the basement with the lights off?

That might sound dramatic, but the reality is, holidays can be a source of conflict for many couples. One of the most common issues revolves around how, where, or with whom they’ll celebrate. Can you relate? Do you have different ideas for how you should spend them? Does it feel like you’re caught in the middle of both of your families? Is it causing conflict between the two of you? If you’re interested in how you can reach a compromise, we’ve got some practical steps for working through it together. Read More

Family Sits on Table Inside Kitchen

What Our Parents Teach Us About Marriage

By Family & Friends, Relationship Basics6 Comments

If you had to write a book full of the lessons your parents taught you, what would be in it? Would there be a long chapter on the importance of kindness or having a good work ethic? Would there be a glossary of “things we don’t talk about” or an appendix of secret family recipes?

While the contents might be different for everyone, one chapter that most of our books would have is “Lessons on Marriage and Relationships.” Yep, for better or for worse, our parents have a big influence on the way we think about and behave in our marriage. Through both direct guidance and observation, here are some of the things you may have picked up on. Read More