Hubby and I have an increasing growing hole between us, I'd like some recommendations on books on marriage.
I know I need to re-read the five love languages, but I could use some other suggestions.
Thanks everyone!
After our chat the other night, we are both trying really hard. Hubby asked me last night if I think we can get back on track, and I told him that as long as we act from a place of love and respect, I think we will be OK. We've just gotten lazy with three small kids under foot. And the last few dates nights weren't much of a date because hubby was traveling and we both ended up just falling asleep at 9.
The best book out there and I feel like I've read them all, is The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. Don't let the title keep you off it.
I don't know of any good ones, but in the name of all that's holy, stay away from anything by "Dr." Laura!
There is a great website called MarriageBuilders.com that has a lot of good articles, exercise, and tools. The Emotional Needs Questionnaire is a good one.
Love and Respect... By... Looking for it on bookshelf cant find it yet.
Maybe try date night @ home & watch Fireproof then do the notebook that goes along with it.
Will try & pm you later with more ideas/books!
P
I love the "Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands". If you can get past the title you'll find a wonderful marriage enhancing book. I've found that women either love or hate the book, no in-betweens. I liked the book so much I gave a copy to each of my married kids. My wife and I read the book and found a lot of, "Is that how you really feel?" sections.
I also like the movie "Fireproof" and the manual that goes along with it, "Love Dare". My wife and I just celebrated our 40th Anniversary and our using the suggestions in the Love Dare is the reason we were together to celebrate our anniversary.
ETA: LOL, LOL, Funny how some of the ones that condemn "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands" go on to suggest you do some of the same things the book suggests that you do. It must be the title that they hate.
Good luck to you and yours.
Books are great, and I'm sure you'll get some good recommendations.
What's also great is simply TIME TOGETHER, laughing, having a drink, getting some exercise, doing all the things you did when you were dating.
Kids and bills and work take their toll. It is CRUCIAL that you make time for each other, not to talk about your problems or be all serious, but to have fun, and have sex.
We've been married almost twenty one years and we have sadly seen many couples split up. In every single case they had fallen into a pattern of him working all the time and being stressed, and her consumed with the kids and the house and being resentful.
So read the books, get some tips, but most of all SPEND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER, just the two of you. Even one date a month can be refreshing and recharging.
I think if The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands had been named The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Spouse, it wouldn't have the bad rap it has.
The main point is to take care of your partner, and men could benefit from that same advice.
Mars and Venus In Touch by Grey
I love reading marriage books. The latest one I read is The 7 minute Marriage Solution by Stephen Arterburn. My husband even enjoyed it.
Conscious Loving by Gay and Kathleen Hendricks.
They also have a wonderful website, www.hendricks.com, with some really great information and programs.
Power of a Praying Wife - love it!! I got this for a shower gift and re-read it about every five years.
Kid CEO (I offer this to parents for management of kids and to parents who are putting their kids first in their relationship)
Actually, I like a lot of Ed Young's books on marriage - Date your mate is another one.
I am going to give you to titles, and they may be slightly wrong, but probably close enough for you to find. One I just started reading, and I saw it recommended here, called something like How to Improve Your Marriage without talking about it. It is exactly like it sounds and I would say, very insightful. The second is something like The Seven Principles of Marriage. I hope I have that right. I found it in a used book sale and its a quick read with a lot of insight.
Books are wonderful. I suggest you also consider watching some of the videos available online for marriage.
I highly recommend "Laugh your way to a better marriage" with Mark Gungor (sp?)
It is a great video to watch for yourself & get perspective, or to watch together. He does a great job at breaking down barriers & buildig up relationships.
Hope you find the help you need. T.
