Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges relationships face we talk about our families of origin and in-laws.

How do we handle overcoming some of our 'core memories' and default settings in order to communicate better with each other?

How do we distinguish between extended families who are involved vs. intruding?

What to do to grow in our love for these people?

We also talk about dealing with kids when they don't want to learn or do something new and how to deal with comments like "This is Stupid!"

- Comedian and Art Heist

Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges in marriage, we cover the topic of sex, and the three categories of how it can be corrupted: Use/Abuse, Infidelity, and Weaponization.

We also talk about waiting until marriage, NFP, and the Blue Origin Rocket explosion.

Part 2 of our series on the top 5 topics that cause challenges for couples -- this week we talk about kids.

Part 1 - We discuss the "Enhanced Games" and what this kind of mentality looks like in parenting. Being an overly permissive parent who just goes along with 'what they're gonna do anyway' is a recipe for problems.

Part 2 - We talk about the important things couples need to discuss about having kids while dating, while engaged, and during those early years of marriage.

Mark and Erin kick off a series on the top issues that couples need to align on and that can be a source of conflict.

This Just In: The recent rash of commencement speakers talking about AI, and subsequently getting booed, is a good reminder of the importance of preparing well for having conversations with our kids about difficult situations for them.

• NPR on AI Commencement Addresses

Topic: We discuss how important it is to be conscious of how we talk about money with our partners from dating, through engagement, and into marriage.

• Who pays for dates?
• How much should a ring cost?
• Joint vs. Separate accounts?
• Using debt
• Spending limits

Other Links:

Net Ministries⁠

Franciscan University

Mark and Erin talk about:

• Amazon's new "Ultra" delivery service
• How to know when to 'go steady'
• How to know when you're ready to say I love You
• How to know when you're ready to get engaged

Mark and Erin open with a discussion about Spirit airlines shutdown and the impact of poor customer service in raising kids.

Then we have a conversation about the five rules for handling fighting in relationships.

Links:

Spirit Airlines Article

Teams of Our Lady

Mark and Erin talk about Allyson Felix's potential comeback and how that can affect a family, and then go into a discussion about how dating changes through different stages in life, but is always important as a way of coming to know each other continually.

They end with a hot-take on the prom-posal trend.

Links:

Allyson Felix

The Dating Project

He's Just Not That Into You

An introduction into who we are, what we are doing, and why.