Latest news with #GaryChapman
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
15 Brutal Signs Your Marriage Isn't Built To Last
In the ever-evolving game of love, it's all too easy to wear those rose-colored glasses a tad too long. Yet, as life unfolds its intricate layers, certain telltale signs whisper that perhaps your union isn't the forever kind. Sure, every couple has their quirks, but some signs are less about personality and more about compatibility's fatal flaw. Grab your latte, settle into your most chic corner, and let's dig into these unexpected signals that suggest your marriage might be more fragile than a fashion model's ego at a runway show. In the grand tapestry of love, communication is far more than just words. It's about resonating on the same frequency, and sometimes, you might be tuned to entirely different channels. If your idea of affection is a bouquet of roses, while your partner's is a silent Netflix binge, you might be living an emotional Tower of Babel scenario. Dr. Gary Chapman, author of "The Five Love Languages," highlights the importance of understanding your partner's love language as fundamental to maintaining a healthy emotional connection. When love languages clash, it's not just about unmet expectations. It can spiral into a feeling of emotional neglect, where both parties feel unappreciated. The inability to speak each other's love dialect can leave you feeling as though you're living with a friendly stranger. Without a translator, this gap can widen, turning shared moments into silent room-shares instead of a partnership. In the age of digital personas, sharing a bit of your life online is par for the course. However, if your deepest thoughts and grievances regarding your partner are more likely to be found on Instagram than in your bedroom, there's a red flag flapping in the breeze. This public airing can hint that you're seeking validation outside your marriage, where intimacy ought to thrive within its private sphere. A relationship built on external validation is often a relationship teetering on a very public precipice. Nothing should replace face-to-face communication, especially not a status update. When grievances become performative, it signals that the comfort of connection has abandoned the premises. The true danger lies in creating a persona for your marriage that exists only for public consumption. Over time, the audience becomes more involved in your relationship than you are, leaving the real connection neglected and ignored, much like a relic of past seasons' fashion. While infidelity might initially conjure images of clandestine meetings or secret flings, financial infidelity is an equally insidious foe. When credit card statements become more closely guarded than a celebrity's privacy, it signals trouble. According to a study by Harris Poll on behalf of the National Endowment for Financial Education, two in five Americans admit to lying to their partners about money. The deception involved in financial secrets can erode trust faster than a viral tweet. Financial dishonesty might start small, but it has a way of snowballing into larger, more destructive habits. When one partner hides spending or debt, it creates a power imbalance, much like uneven hemlines in fashion. Over time, trust becomes a mere echo of its former self, breeding resentment and division. Without transparency, the partnership part of your relationship turns into a competitive sport, complete with winners and losers. For some, conflict is the emotional equivalent of a pop-up ad—unexpected and to be avoided at all costs. But when you dodge every disagreement, it's less about keeping the peace and more about stifling communication. A marriage without disagreement is often one where deeper issues simmer unaddressed beneath a polished exterior. Avoidance doesn't protect the relationship; it suffocates it with silence. The absence of conflict might initially seem harmonious, but it's more like a fashion collection with no risks—safe yet forgettable. Disagreements are opportunities to grow, evolve, and understand your partner on a deeper level. When you forgo these opportunities, you're not preventing harm but preventing growth. In time, unresolved issues can accumulate, creating an emotional landfill of ignored grievances. Every strong partnership has a compass—a set of shared dreams that guide the relationship. When your dreams diverge like two fashion lines going in opposite directions, the future can become more of a question mark than an exclamation point. Dr. Terri Orbuch, a social psychologist and author of "5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great," asserts that couples benefit significantly when they maintain goals that align. Without this alignment, a marriage can become a dual residency instead of a unified home. Diverging dreams may start innocently enough, as personal pursuits are natural and encouraged. However, if these pursuits lead you down separate paths, you'll eventually find yourselves living parallel lives. The richness of a shared future is diluted, leaving a paler, more isolated existence. When dreams no longer intertwine, the fabric of marriage can unravel, thread by thread. Intimacy, in all its forms, is the connective tissue of a marriage, and its absence can be as glaring as a fashion faux pas on the red carpet. When physical and emotional closeness becomes a relic of the past, the relationship starts to resemble a beautifully kept museum—admired but untouched. This disconnect can transform partners into roommates, coexisting without the glue of genuine closeness. Without intimacy, the vibrancy of a relationship can fade into monochrome. The decline of intimacy often goes unnoticed at first, like the slow fade of a favorite fabric. Subtle changes, like a lack of touch or absence of shared secrets, may seem harmless initially. Yet, as time goes on, the gap widens, leaving a void where connection once thrived. Rediscovering intimacy requires intention and effort, much like reviving a forgotten trend, but the cost of neglecting it is a relationship stripped of its warmth and color. When a relationship morphs into a competitive sport, with each partner keeping meticulous score, it's a sign of deep-seated issues. Keeping tabs on who did what or who owes whom what favor is a surefire way to build resentment. According to relationship expert Dr. John Gottman, relationships thrive not on tallying points but on acts of kindness and generosity that create positive sentiment. When the focus is on winning rather than partnership, both parties ultimately lose. The constant scorekeeping can transform love into a ledger, a transactional relationship devoid of genuine emotion. In such an environment, every interaction is tinged with an invisible checklist, ensuring that everything remains balanced. But love isn't about balance sheets; it's about support, care, and connection. When transactions replace gestures of love, the foundation of the relationship becomes less about unity and more about competition. There's nothing wrong with cherishing a little solitude in our hectic lives. However, when the highlight of your day is the moment you can escape your partner, it unveils a chasm between you. While independence is essential, a marriage thrives on shared experiences and mutual enjoyment. If "me time" feels like a rescue mission rather than a rejuvenation, it suggests a deeper dissatisfaction. Cherishing alone time should be a complement to, not a substitute for, time spent together. When you consistently seek solitude, it implies that your partner's presence is more draining than fulfilling. Over time, this dynamic can lead to isolation, where both parties drift into separate worlds. When togetherness becomes a chore, it's a signal to reassess the relationship's pulse. It's natural to admire other couples' dynamics, but when admiration turns to envy, there's something amiss. If you find yourself consistently longing for the type of relationship others seem to have, it's a cue to reflect internally. This envy might stem from unmet needs or unaddressed issues within your marriage. When you're more focused on what others have, you neglect the potential for growth in your relationship. Jealousy often masks deeper insecurities and dissatisfaction. It's a form of escapism, where dreaming about someone else's reality distracts from confronting your own. This habit can erode gratitude, blinding you to the positives in your partnership. When every outing feels like a reminder of what you lack, rather than what you cherish, it's a cue for introspection and change. Nostalgia has its place, but when you're constantly reminiscing about the "good old days," it may signal a disconnect with the present. A marriage rooted in the past indicates that you're yearning for a time when things felt more connected, easier, or simply better. This fixation can stall growth, trapping the relationship in a time capsule rather than evolving with the present. When your best memories outweigh your current joys, it's an indication that something needs attention. Living in the past creates an invisible wall between what was and what is. It prevents you from embracing the changes and challenges that naturally come with time. The inability to let go of old glories can hinder your ability to adapt and grow together. When your present feels like a footnote to your past, it's time to reevaluate the dynamics at play. Feeling invisible in a relationship can be as isolating as being at a party where you don't know a soul. When your thoughts, opinions, and feelings consistently go unnoticed or dismissed, it's a red flag. A healthy marriage involves active listening and mutual respect, not a one-sided monologue. When your voice feels like a whisper in the wind, it's time to address the imbalance. Silence often speaks louder than words, and when your partner fails to acknowledge your presence, it creates a rift. Being unseen can lead to feelings of inadequacy and loneliness, even when you're physically together. Over time, this neglect can sap the relationship's vitality, leaving a hollow shell where depth once thrived. Reclaiming your space and voice is essential to restoring balance and connection. In a strong partnership, one person's success is a shared victory. However, when your partner's achievements leave you feeling threatened or inadequate, it suggests an undercurrent of insecurity. This dynamic can lead to resentment, where support turns into silent competition. Instead of celebrating together, it creates an emotional divide that can be hard to bridge. Feeling overshadowed by your partner's accomplishments can breed feelings of inferiority. It can shift the relationship's balance from teamwork to rivalry, where one person's win feels like another's loss. This mindset stifles the potential for mutual growth and understanding. When success becomes a battleground rather than a shared joy, it's crucial to address the emotions at play. Introducing your partner to your inner circle should be a natural, joyous occasion. But if you find yourself hesitating, it's a signal that something might be awry. This reluctance could stem from embarrassment, doubt, or a lack of confidence in your relationship's stability. Avoidance suggests that on some level, you're unsure about how well your partnership fits into the wider tapestry of your life. Keeping your partner separate from your other relationships creates a duality that's hard to sustain. It implies a lack of integration and can prevent the relationship from fully flourishing. Over time, these separate worlds can drift further apart, much like an unsynchronized dance. When introductions feel more like obligations than celebrations, it's time to examine the underlying causes. A partner should be your sanctuary, not a source of additional stress. If you find yourself seeking solace elsewhere when the going gets tough, it's a sign of emotional distance. This lack of safety can turn the relationship into a minefield, where vulnerability is risky rather than welcomed. A marriage without a safe space is like a home without a roof—exposed to the elements and vulnerable to damage. When your partner isn't your confidant, it signals a breakdown in trust and communication. It suggests that the relationship lacks the nurturing environment necessary for emotional growth. Seeking comfort in others or isolating yourself leaves the core of the partnership neglected. Rebuilding this safe space requires effort and openness, but it's essential for a thriving relationship. Planning a future should be an exciting, shared adventure, not a solitary endeavor. If your vision of the years ahead feels more like a solo mission than a partnership, it's an indication of disconnect. A shared future is fundamental to any marriage, providing direction and purpose. When your plans don't include your partner, it's a sign that the relationship is missing a vital element of unity. A future without a shared narrative is like a story with two divergent plots. It suggests a lack of alignment in values, dreams, or priorities. This division can create a barrier to intimacy, where each person pursues their path without regard for the other. When the journey ahead seems more like a solitary trek than a joint venture, it's time to reassess where your relationship is headed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Let's Be Honest This Mother's Day: Every Mom Has the Same Love Language
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways I was on deadline to file this story when my husband came downstairs after tucking my seven-year-old into bed. 'I'm going to set a timer for 30 minutes and really give the kitchen a scrub-down,' he said, as he rolled up his sleeves. Yes, it was a Friday night. Yes, we could have just as easily cuddled on the couch. But, my god, as far as romance goes, you better believe my heart skipped a beat. Here's why: If we turn back the clock a cool 30+ years to 1992, a man by the name of Dr. Gary Chapman coined the idea of love languages in his best-selling book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts. The gist? Chapman claims that by taking the time to understand your partner's unique preferences when it comes to how they express and experience love, you can head off potential conflicts and connect on a deeper and more intimate level that allows you to grow closer over time. (The five different love languages include Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time and Physical Touch.) A diamond necklace is nice, so is an impromptu shoulder rub, but my love language is 1000 percent Acts of Service and I'm willing to bet nearly all moms on the planet feel the same way. After all, the arrival of kids changes you to the core, and suddenly, time is in short supply. Try as I might to re-train my brain, daily logistics are the main focus. Additionally, research shows that the mental load is shouldered primarily by women, regardless of who is the primary earner. (This isn't to say that modern men aren't trying to be more helpful—it's actually a systemic thing.) This is exactly why all the moms I know crave and celebrate a partner who sees that list of chores and—without being asked—makes an effort to take it on. One friend of mine with two kids in New York said, 'It feels like the ultimate act of love to watch my husband do the meal planning or volunteer to head out to the grocery store, since it means it's one less thing on my plate.' Another mom of two, based in Amsterdam, says, 'I feel like I carry the brunt of the domestic responsibilities, everything from childcare to meal prep, so anytime my husband steps in to help the invisible load feels [welcome]. But when he helps without my soliciting it, it is especially swoon-worthy.' According to Psychology Today, Acts of Service—the idea that actions speak louder than words—are a common love language for parents since it 'demonstrates that your partner is going out of their way to meaningfully help and support you.' And for moms, who are generally left to deal with the bulk of the cooking, cleaning and summer camp planning, any moment where they get to observe their partner trying to flip the script is, frankly, kind of hot. For the act of service to have a true impact, your partner has to initiate it themself. In other words, it's not an act of service if I've been nagging you all week to fix the broken faucet and you finally do it. It is an act of service if you notice the oven is looking gross, and give it a deep clean unprompted. In other words, this Mother's Day, I'm asking dads to put away the flowers and chocolates. Give us what we really want: a day of filling out the camp forms and taking the car in for an oil change. If that's not sexy, I don't know what is. The 65 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Every Type of Mom
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How the 5 love languages framework can help make your friendships stronger
Do you love gift giving? Loathe hugs? How you seek out and give affection is known as your 'love language.' Originally introduced by Gary Chapman, a Baptist minister, the five love languages — words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, physical touch and gifts — offer a framework for understanding how people express and receive love. While Chapman isn't a formal relationship researcher, a common critique of his work, his 1992 book on the topic has resonated with many seeking to strengthen their romantic connections, with more than 20 million copies sold. Experts say that this love language theory can be applied beyond romantic relationships and that using the basic concept in your friendships can help you avoid hurt feelings and mismatched expectations. The five love languages are ways in which you show you care about others and reflect how you want to be shown affection. Words of affirmation: Expressing love through spoken or written words, such as sharing appreciative words or paying a compliment Quality time: Showing love through spending meaningful time together, such as having deep conversations or doing activities where you're focused on each other Acts of service: Helping your loved one by doing things that benefit their lives, such as by running errands, cooking meals or offering support Physical touch: Expressing affection through physical closeness, such as hugs, kisses or hand-holding Gifts: Giving presents to show appreciation, such as a thoughtful birthday gift or picking up a special treat while at a coffee shop Chapman says that people can appreciate more than one language and that they're ranked for people in order of importance: So, while you may really love quality time, you also need some words of affirmation to feel cared for. Friendships and romantic relationships aren't all that different from one another, as 'both require tending, understanding and a willingness to truly 'see' the other,' psychotherapist Barbie Atkinson tells Yahoo Life. Just like in romance, people crave different things in friendship. 'One friend might need a stream of texts — words of affirmation — while another just wants you to be there and quality time is key,' Atkinson explains. 'Use the love languages as a lens to understand what truly fills your friends' cup.' Here are some ways the love languages may show up in friendships, specifically: Words of affirmation: Sending encouraging texts, hyping your friend up or complimenting them Quality time: Planning one-on-one hangouts or having deep conversations on the phone Acts of service: Helping with errands, supporting them with child care or offering to bring them food or medicine when sick Physical touch: Giving hugs, linking arms while walking or sitting close on a couch Gifts: Bringing back a souvenir from a trip, giving a thoughtful birthday present or picking up an extra coffee for them when you hang out Discovering what makes your friend tick can be like a 'friendship cheat code,' Atkinson says. It can also help you align your expectations of another person, Victoria Kress, professor of psychological sciences and counseling at Youngstown State University, tells Yahoo Life. For example, you may have a friend who texts you constantly throughout the day to show that they care, but texting isn't super meaningful for you or may even bother you. Or, you may take charge of planning a vacation — what you see as an act of service — but your friends think it displays bossiness rather than care. This disconnect in how we see our friends displaying caring can lead us to conflict. We might assume our friends don't care about us simply because they don't show it as we would, Kress says. 'We look at other people's behaviors and we interpret them through our own lens and through our own experiences,' she shares. 'That can really get us in trouble in terms of just understanding people's intentions.' Friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson tells Yahoo Life that it helps to be clear about how you expect your friends to show up for you. 'It requires psychological labor and emotional maturity to remind yourself that just because you have assigned meaning to something doesn't mean other people have,' she says. 'Be really careful about conflating, 'You did not do this gesture, so you don't care about me.'' If your pal has been a consistent and caring friend over the years, Jackson emphasizes that one missed gesture shouldn't be seen as 'invalidating' the entire relationship. Instead, she suggests using these moments as opportunities for communication. If birthdays are significant to you, expressing that to your friend — rather than assuming they don't care — can help close the gap before misunderstandings take root. 'Have the talks, set the expectations and focus on intentionality,' says Atkinson. 'Even if you struggle with a particular love language, the effort you put into meeting your friend's needs will be deeply appreciated. Focus on the thought behind your actions, and communicate that thought clearly.' Whether or not you call it your love language, learning how your friends like to be cared for can help strengthen your bond and avoid misunderstandings. If you find that you don't appreciate the way in which your friend shows care, however — or feel like their expectations of you are too rigid or are too difficult to meet, even after communicating your differences — it may not be the right friendship to be in.
The Independent
16-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
How your spending changes according to your ‘love language'
How would you describe your relationship with money? This is something I ask my coaching clients when we start working together and the range of responses is so varied and interesting, including: 'Fraught, disconnected, full of negative emotion. But with glimmers of hope!' 'All a bit at sea. I'm mad at it – mad at myself, really. I have savings goals but I struggle to prioritise my money. I'm easily distracted and impulsive with my spending and then get mad that I don't have the money to do what I'd really like to do.' 'Thoughtful and intentional. I'm careful with how I earn money and how it's channelled for current and future use.' I'm a money coach – of course I'm taking Valentine's Day (and Galentine's Day!) and applying it to money. Enter the five love languages. Have you heard of them? They're as follows: words of affirmation, quality time, giving and receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. The Five Love Languages is a 1992 nonfiction book by Gary Chapman which details five ways that romantic partners express and experience love. There's an online quiz you can take to find out yours. Here's how you can apply the five love languages to your finances – whether your relationship status is coupled-up, single and ready (or not) to mingle or 'it's complicated'. Words of affirmation What you say to yourself matters. If you repeatedly tell yourself you're bad, useless or hopeless with money, it's no surprise if this shows in your actions. And how's the negative talk working out for you? If you could beat yourself up into being better with money, you'd probably be stress-free and sitting on a fortune by now. So, let's bin that approach – it's not about lying to yourself but there's a difference between blame and taking responsibility for your situation. This can look like shifting from thinking, 'I'm bad with money' to 'I am learning how to be good with money' and taking action to reinforce these words of affirmation with your behaviour, whether that's starting a savings habit or putting an hour aside each week to work on your finances and get clear on your numbers. Which brings me to… Quality time Getting on top of your finances doesn't have to take ages, but it does need time devoted to it. My top tip here is to schedule time to work on your finances and set an agenda so you know exactly what you're working on. One of my clients set aside one morning a week to review her finances. 'Finance Friday' is now her ongoing weekly quality time with her money. Another client put an afternoon aside to do a subscription sweep and saved herself £1,500 in the process – not a bad result for two hours of quality time. Yet another client scheduled a money date with her husband so they could pin down the family summer holiday – where they were going and how they were going to fund it. 'If it's in the diary, it'll happen,' she said. And it did. She put time in their shared online calendar, the money date happened, and their holiday is now booked and will be paid for with no last-minute money stress. It's tempting to slash and burn all your non-essential expenses when trying to budget and improve your financial situation. But it's a false economy to cut back on all the things that make life worth living. Similar to dieting, what happens then is that people eventually crack and splurge, then beat themselves up for being bad at budgeting and stop – and perhaps end up worse off than where they started. Instead, whether giving or receiving gifts, budget for joy. Keep a line in your budget for the things that matter to you and your loved ones. Think savvy instead of splurge, thought over cost. Giving and receiving gifts can be no cost or low-cost. Swapping those overpriced Valentine's overpriced roses for a more affordable bunch of daffodils, for example. Get creative and come up with options for how you can achieve a similar outcome for less, if that's what your relationship with money needs at this time. Acts of service Like a partner who shows their love by fixing things around the home rather than saying 'I love you,' this love language is about intentional actions that make your life easier or more enjoyable. Think about your future self. What can you do now to make your life easier for them? Short-term, this may look like writing down what's still to come out of your bank account this month so you're not quaking every time you get a Monzo notification on your phone. Longer term, it might be sorting your pension out so you have enough money to live the life you want in retirement. Be proactive instead of reactive with your money. Your future self will thank you for it. Physical touch While I, like many, tap away on my card for the majority of my transactions, I try and take out cash every week as purse money. It helps me not overspend on, erm, Haribo sweets, to make up the £3 minimum card transaction at my local shop (a win for my health). It also helps my wealth as handing over cash creates greater awareness of my spending as I see and feel the money go down. Cash offers a helpful pause that allows people to consider if they want something enough to part with their cold, hard cash for it. Re-introducing this pause through the use of cash is what one of my clients opted for last year to improve her relationship with money. Plus, the recent banking outages in the last month provided a timely reminder that having a bit of cash to hand is always helpful. Talia Loderick is a Money Coach. Talia helps people understand and take control of their behaviour with money so they can stop stressing about money and have enough to live well – now and in future. 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Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Take a romantic stroll, use their love language and 8 more good-for-you ways to celebrate your sweetheart this Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day, lovers! If you forgot to purchase flowers or that perfect Hallmark card for your sweetheart, we won't tell. Instead, we've got you covered with a bunch of other ideas for ways you can show them how much you care. Bonus: They're actually good for you and your special someone too. 1. Send a flirty text. Humans have been sending love notes to each other since the dawn of time. While a handwritten note is always lovely, even a quick 21st-century approach (i.e., a short text or meme) lets your main squeeze know that you're thinking of them while you're apart — and strengthens your own attachment and love for them as well. If you're not a natural poet, fear not; steal some text ideas from this list. 2. Watch a good rom-com — or one of your valentine's favorite flicks. Yes, they can be cheesy, but what better day to indulge in a good romantic comedy? Cuddle up on the couch and check out something new — like Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which is available to stream now — or give your valentine the remote and let them choose one of their old favorites; rewatching stuff you love delivers feel-good endorphins and has tangible health benefits. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 3. Let them eat cake (or cookies, or charcuterie...). Get your valentine some of their favorite tasty treats and enjoy them together — and bonus points if the treats are healthy for you. It's Girl Scout Cookie season, so buy a box or two of your preferred biscuits or nibble on some heart-healthy chocolates. And nothing says 'I love you' like a plate of delicately arranged meats, which helps you both get your protein fix. 4. Use your partner's preferred love language. If you want to make your valentine feel truly loved, don't guess what they need; straight up ask them which of the five love languages makes them feel most appreciated — and share what your preferred love language is too. Gary Chapman's book The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts has been enormously popular since it was first published in 2015, but if you need a refresher, the love languages are words of affirmation, spending quality time together, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. 5. Hold hands. Speaking of physical touch, holding hands is one of the easiest ways to show you care, and can be done while eating dinner, driving in the car, snuggling on the couch — whenever. That skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin, aka the 'cuddle hormone,' which fosters bonding and connection. Plus, it comes with a host of health benefits for both of you — including reducing pain and lowering blood pressure. 6. Give them a kiss. Take that physical intimacy a bit further (it is Valentine's Day, after all!) and pucker up. Kissing not only reinforces your romantic connection, it's great for your gut, supports your immune system and boosts your mood. 7. Step in and handle some of their household chores (without being asked). There is nothing more romantic than the gift of a clean home that you did not need to tidy yourself. Make dinner, pick up the kids' toys, do the laundry — whatever chores are usually on your partner's plate, step in and do one of them yourself. Their happiness will make you feel good too. 8. Take a romantic stroll. Long walks in the moonlight may sound cliché, but the romantic trope has withstood the test of time for a reason. These famous love experts, for example, recently told CNN that going on walks together in nature and while in new places has been a cornerstone of their 50-year marriage. Plus, it's an easy yet incredible form of exercise that increases blood flow, strengthens muscles and lowers stress and anxiety levels. 9. Go on a date (a real one). Take your valentine on a real, actual date — meaning no kids, no work and no admin talk. Put away your phone, get a babysitter or ask a friend or family member to watch the kids for an hour, and reconnect with each other away from household cares. There's nothing more valuable than the gift of your time and undivided attention. 10. Tell them you love them. It sounds so easy. But amid the hustle and bustle of life, we can forget to remind the people we love the most just how much they mean to us. Simply say, 'I love you,' or check out these tips on how to express it best. (For example, you can try the 'adjective + feeling + example' approach, such as, 'You're so compassionate and empathetic. I feel like I can come to you with anything. The other day when I was having a rough time, it meant a lot that you could just listen and be there for me.')
