Book Review: The Five Love Languages

It took me some time to finally read The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate since it was written for those who are married. I highly recommend this book to every married couple and those who are engaged. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that if I had read this book while still married, I would not be a single mom today.

Seldom do a husband and wife have the same primary emotional love language.

Looking back, I can see now that my ex-husband and I definitely were speaking different love languages and we never did learn each other's language. His love language is Acts of Service whereas mine is Quality Time. The others love languages, outlined by author Gary Chapman, are Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts and Words of Affirmation.

Once you identify and learn to speak your spouse’s primary love language, I believe that you will have discovered the key to a long-lasting, loving marriage.

If you are married, engaged, or know a couple who are preparing for a lifetime together, The Five Love Languages makes a great read and a wonderful gift to pass along.

Also by Gary Chapman:
The Five Love Languages for Singles
The Five Love Languages of Children
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers
The Five Languages of Apology: How to Experience Healing in All Your Relationships

UPDATE: If you have read this book, please let me know in the comments how long you and your partner have been together. If you're not in a committed relationship at the moment, please let me know how (or if) this book changed your perspective.

Inspiration for a Satisfying Session of Sex

I used to think of Redbook as a magazine for older, married women, but now, suddenly I am that woman (except for the married part)! So help me, I now find myself perusing the covers at the grocery store and just lately, I've been reading their articles on line, including the latest round up of Sex Tips and Tricks.

Keep your panties on and come back often as we indulge in a crash course of ways to heat things up in the bedroom:

1. 21 Little Sex Moves That Will Rock Your World (And His)!
2. What I Learned in Sex School
3. 20 Amazing Sex Secrets
4. Sex Secrets of Women Men Love
5. The New Sex Rules
6. Feel Sexy Fast
7. Sex Life Road Test
8. The Shy Girl's Guide to Satisfaction (In Bed)
9. Can I Really Have Sex There?
10. Make the Ultimate Sex Connection
11. 8 Kinds of Sex Every Couple Should Try
12. 4 Weeks to a Hotter, Happier, More Satisfying Sex Life
13. 12 Easy Moves to Make Your Sex Life Hotter
14. Beyond the G-Spot
15. The Sex Trick Busy Couples Swear By
16. Love Your Sex Life
17. Movie Sex: How to Have It
18. Sexier Sex
19. Quality Quickies
20. 35 Sexy Places to Touch Your Man
21. Double (or Triple) Your Pleasure In Bed: Multiple Orgasms
    
22. DIY: Erotic Photographs
23. Climactic Convergence: How to Peak at the Same Time
24. 6 Surprise Hot Zones
25. Why You Should Have Sex Tonight
26. Secrets of Couples Who Have Lots of Sex
27. How To Never Be Too Tired for Sex
28. The Long-Lost Secret to Great Sex
29. Hollywood's Best Sex Secrets
30. 31 Ways to Say "Yes" To Sex
31. 53 Secrets to Make Sex Sizzle
32. The Sex Skill No Man Can Resist
33. Spice Up Your Sex Life
34. Make Love...Just Like in a Romance Novel
35. Hot and Bothered
36. 7 Sex Milestones That Bring You Closer Together
37. Men Confess: "Our Hottest Night Ever"
38. The Best Position for Making Love
39. 12 Amazing Sex Tricks He Secretly Wants You to Know

Whether you're married or single (and can get past the references to husbands in the above articles), you will be able to use these tips to enjoy a steamy session with your partner.

Don't forget to bookmark this page so you can come back to enjoy more secrets for more satisfying sessions of sex.

ParenTeam: Stay-At-Home-Dads and Their Working Woman

Millions of dads are saying NO to corporate life and opting to stay home with their children.

Dual-income, stressed-out families are taking back their lives and embracing an alternative that provides more balance, control and happiness.

ParenTeam is devoted to making life easier by offering the best advice, inspiration and tricks-of-the-trade to help the stay-at-home husband work together with his working wife as a parenting team.

The work-family balancing act takes on new meaning when a stay-at-home dad is at the helm. At ParenTeam, you'll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the daily life of a successful SAHD and see how he handles kitchen duty, household chores, discipline, shopping, schlepping around town, bedtime/naptime hassles and how he sprinkles everything he does with hugs & kisses.

Lessons to Learn from Same-Sex Couples

A study from San Diego State University suggests that committed same-sex couples are more satisfied with their partners than married heterosexual couples. The study surveyed same-sex couples who had civil unions in Vermont, same-sex couples not in civil unions and married heterosexual couples, over a three-year period. Results of the study showed that same-sex couples reported greater relationship quality, compatibility, intimacy and lower levels of conflict than married couples.

"If you think about same sex couples, you have two women or two men, who were raised in more similar ways. They're both from 'Mars,' both from 'Venus,' and so it's actually not surprising that when it comes to relationship satisfaction they do better," said Esther Rothblum, SDSU professor. "Because of this they may not have to negotiate the huge barriers that men and women do in terms of how they view conflict, provide emotional support or handle childrearing," said Rothblum.

According to the study, same-sex couples were indistinguishable from heterosexual married couples on many other relationship variables, including the number of children, sexual behavior and frequency of contact with their parents with or without their partners. This was the first study to follow same-sex couples in civil unions over time. It was published in the January issue of Developmental Psychology.