The latest issue of Tender Tidings, the e-magazine for intentional Catholic parents is out! Here are some of the great things you’ll find inside: Sleep stories from intentional parents, tips for getting more sleep, the science of safe co-sleeping What can the Holy Family teach us about parenting? Dr. Greg provides tips for getting young children to pay attention during Mass. An authentic (but easy) king cake for the Feast of the Epiphany PLUS MORE! Go here to access the... Read more
We all know that marriage changes us, but new research in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships looks at exactly how that process happens and the specific changes we can expect to see based on the way we respond to the ups and downs of married life. According to the study, there are 4 ways couples change as a result of their marriage, two of which are positive and two are negative. Positive Marital Changes Self-Expansion: Is the tendency to develop... Read more
My latest ParentRx Q&A Column from the upcoming issue of Tender Tidings. My five-year-old daughter still throws temper tantrums occasionally, which are usually triggered by not getting her way with something that seems rather trivial to us. Sometimes we have no idea what caused the tantrum, and have a hard time getting her to tell us what happened. What is the best way to help her calm down and talk to us when she is in the midst of screaming,... Read more
From a recent interview with Pope Francis. The family is so beaten up, young people don´t get married. What´s the problem? When they finally come to get married, having already moved in together, we think it´s enough to offer them three talks to get them ready for marriage. But it´s not enough because the great majority are unaware of the meaning of a lifetime commitment. Benedict said it twice in his last year, that we should take this into account... Read more
The Catholic Almanac’s Emily Stimpson interviewed me for a piece in OSV titled, Our Brother’s Keeper. Fighting Apathy. Here’s a sample… Surveying the cultural landscape, a growing number of commentators have diagnosed Americans’ declining interest in political and community involvement as one of apathy. But that, said Dr. Gregory Popcak, executive director of CatholicCounselors.com, is just another way of saying “sloth.” “Sloth is apathy,” he explained. “It’s one of the seven deadly sins. It’s not laziness; it’s indifference. It’s an unwillingness... Read more
My book, Holy Sex! A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving got a mention in an article over at the Huffington Post. “Sexier Religious Holidays: 11 Sugarplums of Wisdom.” Apparently, I am the 10th sugarplum (just as I always suspected ;-). Read more
Taking a cue from the classic rom-com, When Harry Met Sally, an article at RealClearReligion.com argues that husbands and wives should not expect to be each other’s best friend. The author, Mark Judge, writes, “I married my best friend.” You often hear this said, from new brides to celebrities. Even the President of the United States says he married his best friend. As nice at it may seem, a man should not marry his best friend. He should marry his wife, who should... Read more
Happy Thanksgiving to all my loyal, Faith on the Couch readers. I am grateful for all of you and your support of this ministry. As regular readers know, giving thanks is good for every aspect of your health, life and relationships. Here’s a great article that summarizes the benefits of gratitude with lots of links to learn more! Read more
NYT columnist, Ross Douthat, and America Editor-at-Large, Fr. Jim Martin, are having a very interesting conversation about the fallout from the Extraordinary Synod on the Family. I applaud them on their civility, but I do think they are missing some important points. So Who Asked You, Anyway? Although they haven’t asked my opinion, I did want to offer a few thoughts because as a full-time marriage and family minister who has written more than 20 books promoting the Catholic vision... Read more
Babies, babies, babies! We LOVE babies! Lisa’s and my new book, Then Comes Baby: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Three Years of Parenthood celebrates every aspect of adding a new member to your family. We cover everything you need to know about balancing baby care, mommy care, daddy care, and marriage care so that you can feel your best in every part of your life even in those challenging first few months after the birth... Read more
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