“When I fall in love,” the old song goes, “it will be forever.” But don’t count on it! Our society, tutored by a dreamy mass media, tells us falling in love is the soaring pinnacle of human relationship, the dazzling fulfillment of our emotional existence. Yet social science (along with many of us) has discovered…
A custom-written love song. A viral-ready video. This is the stuff of love in 2012, of marriage proposals and romantic professions, posted on the Web for all to see. It also is how “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. Chapman’s book has sold 7 million copies since 1992,…
We all remember that childhood chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Actually words can be quite hurtful and scarring, can’t they? Especially when they come from our spouse or significant other. Communication in a relationship can be a difficult thing. Sometimes it’s like a flawless dance and…
My beautiful wife, Christi, is Canadian. If you know anything about Canadian weddings you understand the reception north of the border tends to be more elaborate than its American counterpart, often full of skits, family speeches, dancing and games that keep everybody laughing and crying—often at the same time. In the months prior to our…
Heeding my own advice about technology as a distraction, this weekend we unplugged the TV that has been in our bedroom since the birth of our 4th child late last year. Our original reason for the TV in the room, which was against our better judgement, was to give Stephanie something to do while she…
