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 …
Relationships & Marriage Q&As
Do you think it’s okay for me to talk about problems in my marriage with a Facebook friend of the opposite sex? The spark has gone out of my relationship with my spouse, and we always seem to be facing some kind of challenge. Sometimes I discuss this with my online friend, and he’s always …
How can I help my husband see that he is placing the needs and feelings of his parents ahead of mine? After several years of marriage, his attachment to his mom and dad is still so strong that it’s causing serious damage to our relationship. I’ve confronted him about this, but he doesn’t see it …
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?
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?
Can you give me and my spouse some tips for relating to family members who don’t share our Christian faith? My in-laws aren’t believers, and this has sometimes led to awkward or difficult situations at family gatherings.
Is there anything a couple can do to strengthen their relationship prior to engagement? There’s a lot of material out there on pre-marital counseling, but not much on the pre-engagement process. How can you be sure you want to say “yes” when the person you’re dating starts to talk about marriage? What should a couple …
Now that our kids are gone, what can we do to revitalize our relationship? I thought our marriage was healthy and vibrant — that is, until the last of our three children left home. I realize now that it was the kids who brought life into the house, and that so much of our marriage …
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?
