How do gender distinctions — psychological and emotional as well as physical and sexual — impact male-female relationships and the business of everyday life within the context of marriage? What do husbands and wives need to know about this subject, and how will that knowledge help them build a stronger marital bond?
Relationships & Marriage Q&As
Why do Christians need a church wedding and a piece of paper from the state to make their marriage “official”? My girlfriend and I are both dedicated believers and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together. We’ve been wondering why we should bother applying for a marriage license. Isn’t marriage a private, …
What should I do about my boyfriend’s “party friends”? He’s a great guy, and we’re considering a long-term relationship, but he insists on maintaining his connections with this group of people despite the fact that I totally disagree with everything about their lifestyle, behavior, and beliefs. My boyfriend and I try to embrace clean, positive, …
How do we decide what people should call one another in our newly blended family? It’s a second marriage for my husband and me, and each of us had a three-year-old child when we married. Those kids are now six and seven years old. Recently, my step-daughter started calling me “Mom.” When my husband’s ex-wife …
How can we be intimate and maintain a healthy sex life when our children are around all the time? My wife is always afraid of being “heard” or “interrupted” in the act. Again and again she rejects my advances by asking, “What if the kids walked in?”
How can I encourage my parents to stop spoiling our children? Grandma and Grandpa give my kids whatever they ask for, sometimes in complete disregard of my wishes. I don’t want to alienate my parents, but I’ve got to do something. Any ideas?
Can you help me deal with the pain of being abandoned by my father? He left the family when I was young. Now that I’m getting older and really need his input, he’s not here for me. What should I do?
Now that I’m in my mid-20s, how can I help my mom understand I’m not a child anymore? I’m the youngest of three. Because of my position in the family birth-order, my mom seems unwilling or unable to recognize that I’m now an adult. Is there anything I can do?
How can I get beyond my spouse’s critical attitude and forget about the many cruel things she’s said to me in the past? After several years of marriage, I’ve come to point where I just can’t take it anymore. I don’t believe in divorce, so we’re sleeping in separate rooms and living separate lives under …
Would it be okay for me to ask my bride-to-be to get tested for infertility before we’re married? I can’t understand the current trend toward “intentional childlessness” or the apparent devaluation of children in our culture – in fact, I’ve wanted kids for as long as I can remember! I also believe that marriage, sex, …
What marriage assessment tools are available from Focus on the Family?
Is it normal for me to wish I wasn’t married to my spouse? I guess we still love each other, but married life doesn’t look anything like the hopes and dreams we had while we were dating. We’re getting worn down from the hardships and disappointments that seem to keep coming our way. How can …
Do you have any thoughts on the moral and spiritual implications of vasectomy and tubal ligation? For a number of reasons my spouse and I would like to eliminate the possibility of any future pregnancies. What are the pros and cons of these procedures?
Is the recovery and reconciliation process as difficult for an emotional affair as compared to infidelity involving sexual activity? What are the differences? My husband has twice become emotionally involved with a woman at our church. At the moment he’s still struggling and has asked for forgiveness, but I’m not sure what to do or …
Should I share my marital frustrations and problems with my parents and siblings? We’ve always been a very tight-knit family, and there are few people I trust more. Our marriage isn’t in crisis, but there are times when I need some support or simply want to vent. Is that okay?
What can I do to stop my spouse from hurting my feelings with careless and cutting remarks? He’s always making what I consider extremely insensitive comments, and when I protest, he laughs and says he’s only teasing or tells me I’m too sensitive. I can assure you it’s no joke to me. Any suggestions?
Is sex really that critical to a healthy marriage?
How should my husband relate to his female boss? Occasionally, she needs to discuss a business matter with him that requires privacy and so she will schedule a lunch appointment with him alone. I’m uncomfortable with this, but he sees no alternative since this kind of practice is common and expected in his line of …
How can I be sure that my spouse is really repentant for the pain he has caused me? A year ago, I discovered he’d been involved in an emotional affair with another woman for nearly a decade. He also has a history of explosive anger which has often led to verbal abuse. On a number …
What’s the proper protocol for spouses when it comes to helping other people of the opposite sex with problems – especially problems of the marital variety? Sadly, my brother and his wife are in the process of divorcing. My sister-in-law called my husband the other night to see if he would meet with her to provide counseling …
