In today's society, managing a career, marriage, and family is difficult for both women and men. Dr. Haltzman, MD, author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men, assists men in learning how to strengthen their families with these great tips:

1. Keep your eye on the prize: After the vows are exchanged, many men shift the focus from courting their wives to more pragmatic things, like career development. Bad mistake. After the honeymoon, show you care by doing the same courting behaviors you did before you got married. She needs to know she's still # 1.

2. Listen before you leap: Before you jump in to fix something, take time to figure out what's really on her mind. Just listening, without talking, is a good start. Once you really hear the problem, then you can take the right steps to make things better.

3. Ask directions. Marriage is complex; it's a myth that being in love is all you need. It's OK to ask for or seek help from a counselor or a book.

4. Think Positive: Pay extra attention to all the good things your wife brings to your life, rather than focus on the negative interactions.

5. Pitch in: Men who help out with housework have happier marriages. Even if you work hard outside the home, don't ignore household chores.

6. Invest long-term: Just because you're having relationship problems doesn't mean you should bail. All relationships have bad times; most will rebound if you
hang in there.

7. Leave a legacy: Being in a healthy marriage teaches children important lessons about their own relationships. Kids whose parents stick together have less risk of divorcing themselves. So when your grandchildren celebrate Father's Day, they'll be doing it in the home of both their parents.

About the Author: Scott Haltzman, M.D. is the founder of www.DrScott.com. He maintains a private psychiatric practice in Rhode Island, United States and serves as Medical Director of Northern Rhode Island Community Services.

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While divorce impacts both the couple and any children, there can also be a significant impact on extended family members as well. This excerpt shows the impact on grandparents.

Excerpt: Like an elephant in my living room, the divorce of my son and a greatly loved daughter-in-law sits silently watching us as we stumble around in our newly complicated and rearranged lives.

I've learned not to ask the children's mother if I can spend time with them on her custody weekends: The answer is always no.

On my son's weekends, when one of my grandchildren asks to spend the night, my answer is always, "Yes, but let's ask Dad first."

It rarely works out the way the children and I want it to. Sometimes there are three soccer games to be played in different places (my son coaches a team). Or one of the children has plans with a friend who lives far from me and it's too difficult for my son to return for the child who might sleep over.

It is well known that children are at risk when their parents divorce. At risk too, is my once harmonious relationship with my grandchildren. Unconditional time and love are all I have to give. I fear that time has been fractured.

Since my son's divorce, I haven't quite adapted or regained my equilibrium. I've told myself many times to be mature and sensible, in order to be able to help my son and most of all, my grandchildren. I know it will take strength to find perspective and time for me to try to help heal the broken hearts.

To read the entire article, please visit:
www.sptimes.com/2006/08/29/Seniority/Grandparents_struggle.shtml.

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Calling Marriage Transformation just became easier! Call us on our new toll-free number (800-501-6682) to place your orders, schedule an interview, or any other reason. It works for callers in the US and Canada, and possibly for other countries. This is an internet phone plan and we are still testing the international capabilities.

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Creating a Pure Gold Marriage!
A Relationship Workshop for Seriously Courting,
Engaged, and Married Couples

November 10 - 12, 2006
(Friday evening through Sunday around noon time)
Bosch Bahá'í School, Santa Cruz, California

Married and courting couples are welcome to come learn key communication and character skills that contribute to a happy, lasting marriage. Marriage educators Susanne M. Alexander and Craig A. Farnsworth (Pure Gold: Encouraging Character Qualities in Marriage and Marriage Can Be Forever--Preparation Counts!) invite you to a fun and interactive session that includes couple time to nurture your relationship.

For further details, see: http://www.marriagetransformation.com/learning_workshops_upcoming.htm
or www.bosch.org.

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