What to do when your partner is having a bad day? Take it personally? Take responsibility for it? Cry in the fetal position until they are happy again? In today’s episode, we are talking about the do’s and don’ts of how to react to our partners’ bad days. (spoiler- taking it personally, taking responsibility for it and crying in the fetal position are all on the DON’T list 🙂 ) We are therapizing one hit wonder Daniel Powter’s one hit song, Bad Day and of course Rich sings a delightful and more emotionally healthy karaoke version of the song at… Read More

Sometimes, when we are emotionally charged about something and we want to call our spouse’s attention to it, we resort to using anger as that attention-grabber. As a way of saying, “Hey! Listen up! This is important to me!” We use anger as our sword going into battle. Sadly, however, anger often has the exact opposite effect we are going for. When our partner senses anger directed toward them, they will either shut down and disengage or put their defenses up. They will become emotionally flooded and have a difficult time even processing what you are saying. When we come… Read More

“I got up with the baby twice last night, it’s your turn to get up with the kids this morning.”  “You can go to girls night if you let me go golfing on Saturday.” “You haven’t earned cuddle time, when was the last time you complimented me?” Treating our marriage like a transaction is a super common mentality to slip into (especially when you have kids and there are so many undesirable tasks!) However, focusing on what is deserved or earned and with holding love or praise if and when our spouse doesn’t measure up is 1. exhausting 2. putting… Read More