Marital couples are urged to examine their marriage by taking a 15-question quiz that is based on a ten-week couple counseling program. The questions address: communication, flirting, making time for each other, fighting, confidentiality, sex, handling disagreements, household duties, and emotional support. Recommendations are provided based on quiz results.

This fact sheet discusses the importance of positive communication in the marital relationship. It provides the following tips for expressing negative feelings constructively: don’t exaggerate, don’t mind read, use more “”I”” statements and less “”you”” statements, and don’t generalize. Advice is also given for expressing positive feelings without inhibition, listening to negative feelings openly, and […]

This fact sheet discusses the challenges of becoming a new parent and recommends strategies fathers can use to help young mothers and older mothers cope with the transition to parenthood. The importance of communication between a couple and establishing boundaries with grandparents are addressed, as well as the need for fathers to be emotionally responsive […]

This fact sheet discusses the postpartum depression that both mothers and fathers can experience following the birth of a child. Feelings new parents might have are described, and the two-day Bringing Home Baby workshop for helping prepare parents for changes in their relationship is highlighted. The workshop’s goal is to strengthen the marriage so couples […]

This activity book describes strategies for strengthening families drawn from telephone interviews with 1,000 adults in Minnesota, 400 family questionnaires, 12 focus groups with families of various ethnic groups, and five family forums. Nine family strengths are identified and discussed: communication, health, time together, spirituality, support, respect, unity, cultural traditions, and extended sense of family. […]

This article explores the experiences and feelings fathers may have during a pregnancy and childbirth. It discusses how paternal developmental processes occurring during pregnancy are influenced by such factors as whether the pregnancy is planned or unplanned, the quality of the partner relationship, previous experiences with childbearing and childrearing, paternal and maternal age, educational level, […]