Category: marriage

Best strategies for conflict resolution!

Today we celebrated Conflict Resolution Day by talking about the 5 C’s of conflict resolution, and we also shared the best strategies for most common situations.

Here are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution:

  1. Calmness
  2. Clear Communication
  3. Clarification
  4. Collaboration
  5. Compromise

Here are some of the best strategies in common situations:

1. Workplace Conflict

  • Address issues early before they escalate.
  • Stay professional and focus on behavior, not personality.
  • Use “I” statements (“I felt…”) rather than accusatory language.
  • Listen actively and clarify misunderstandings.
  • Involve HR or a mediator if needed.
  • Aim for collaborative solutions (win-win).

2. Romantic Relationships

  • Stay calm; don’t try to resolve things in the heat of anger.
  • Express feelings honestly without blame.
  • Listen with empathy and validate their perspective.
  • Focus on solving the issue, not “winning” the argument.
  • Set boundaries and revisit them if needed.
  • Consider couples counseling if conflicts are recurring or intense.

3. Family Disputes

  • Be respectful and patient, especially with older or younger family members.
  • Avoid bringing up old grievances unless necessary to resolve the current issue.
  • Establish clear communication rules (e.g., no yelling, interrupting).
  • Take breaks if emotions get too high.
  • Sometimes, agreeing to disagree is the most peaceful resolution.
  • For serious issues, involve a family therapist or neutral third party.

 4. Friend Conflicts

  • Talk in person or over a call, not text.
  • Be honest but kind—assume positive intent.
  • Let your friend share their side without interruption.
  • Apologize sincerely if you were in the wrong.
  • Don’t let pride get in the way of mending the friendship.

5. Online or Social Media Conflicts

  • Don’t engage when emotions are high—pause before replying.
  • Move the conversation offline if it’s meaningful.
  • Use empathy and facts, not sarcasm or insults.
  • Know when to disengage—not every comment needs a response.
  • Set boundaries or block/report if harassed.
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Father’s Week on WNZR – Monday!

Today, we kicked off Father’s Week here in WNZR and we’ll be sharing encouragement for dad’s every day!

We began with some roles that dads should embrace. These are important models that your children need in their lives!

We also shared some great examples that you can set for your kids! These are extremely important as children often mimic their parents so we want to be setting the best example we can.

To see the roles that dads should embrace, click HERE!

If you want to check out the examples you should set, click HERE!

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Need some help with Mother’s Day ideas?

The Morning Thing has you covered! Today’s show featured a long list of great ideas, full of activities and gestures. There is a wide range of suggestions, some that are simple and some that are creative. No matter what you pick it is sure to make your mom smile this Mother’s Day!

Some of the hosts favorites:

  • Make Mother’s Day coupons
  • Compile her recipes into a family cookbook
  • Have a movie night
  • Go shopping
  • Organize a brunch
  • Organize a scavenger hunt

There are so many more to see! Click HERE to view the whole list.

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Parental Stress has been declared a significant public health issue. How will you fight it?

The US Surgeon General has declared Parental stress as a significant public health issue. Dr. Vivek Murthy recently released a 36 page advisory on this important issue.
Click HERE to read more.

Dr. Murthy says that we need a culture shift. The advisory says: “It’s time to value and respect time spent parenting on par with time spent working at a paying job, recognizing the critical importance to society of raising children.” Parents and caregivers need societal support and to be able to talk openly about the stress of parenting. Like an earlier surgeon general’s advisory, it says more connection is needed to combat loneliness and isolation among parents.

“The bottom line is that we’ve got to start seeing mental health as health. It is no less important than our physical health,” Murthy said Wednesday. “If we can attend to both our mental and physical health, then we have a good chance, you know, of being happy, healthy and fulfilled, and that’s what we all want for ourselves and especially for our kids.”

The Morning Thing shared some ways for Moms and Dads to fight stress.

For Moms, we shared 5 shifts in focus that can help alleviate Mom Stress.
Click HERE to read the full article from imom.com
1. Focus on your breathing.

2. Focus on your inner critic.

3. Focus on what brings you comfort.

4. Focus on forgiving yourself.

5. Focus on what you can control.

For Dads, we shared 5 ways to address fatherhood stress.
Click HERE to read the full article from allprodad.com
1. Start the day early.

2. Write daily goals and journal.

3. Get active.

4. Find moments to read.

5. Connect with other dads.

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Date Night Ideas With The Morning Thing

If you’re anything like us, you might have occasional problems with finding ideas (and time) for dates. But we found a great resource to help us out! Today on The Morning Thing we took a look at 10 Fun Summer Date Night Ideas from Crosswalk.com that can help to keep the spark alive in your relationship. These are fun, simple ideas that you and your special someone will love!

Click HERE to read the full article!

Some date ideas include:

  1. Making a bucket list together
  2. Getting out on the water
  3. Cozying up in the backyard
  4. Taking to the road

Plus more! Make sure to listen in for more fun and tips on The Morning Thing, weekdays 6-9am on 90.9fm WNZR!

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Making the most of mealtime with your family

Did you know that families who eat a meal together are happier and healthier? Perdue University’s Extension Nutrition Education Program encourages families to make mealtime family time as you cook, eat, and talk together! This can build your family’s relationship, promote healthy eating, foster your children’s sense of family stability, save money, develop everyone’s cooking skills, help your children develop important social skills, and even let everyone try new foods.

Click HERE to learn more from Perdue University Extention Nutrition Program.

Need some cheap and easy dinner ideas for your family? We shared some recipes from Country Living. They include pictures of every recipe so you can see what amazing food you can make You may even have some of these ingredients in your pantry now so you could even try one tonight!

Click HERE for 68 cheap dinner ideas for families from Country Living.

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Tips and tricks for organizing your family’s schedule, and some advice from local moms!

School is back in session, and the kids are getting back into their after-school activities. Does it seem overwhelming to keep track of? We talked to 3 moms to get some real-life advice on organizing your family’s schedule. Lindsay Robinson, Amanda Smith, and Soni Douglas share their experiences.

We also shared 7 tips from Very Well Family for creating those family calendars. Some advice they gave included:

Make sure the calendar is updated and accurate.

Try a digital calendar. Make sure the app works for your family and your needs!

Use a physical calandar, and keep it where it’s accessible to everyone in the family. Use color coding if that’s helpful for your family. You can also blend these two and write your schedule in both your calendar app and your physical calendar so your phone can send you reminders.

Get everyone in the family involved, even the little ones! Teach them the importance of keeping a schedule so they can use it effectively when they get old enough to use the calendar.

Check-in with your family regularly about their schedule. Talk about what they need to do the next day, and what they need to plan in the future.

Don’t forget to plan for time to rest and relax. Having a jam-packed schedule once in a while happens, but it shouldn’t be every day. Studies show that people who don’t take time to rest are at risk for depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, eating less/poorly, and poor decision making skills. Make time for your family to spend time together, or for you and your significant other to have a date night.

Click HERE to read the full article from VeryWell Family.

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What can you say “No” to for a Good Marriage?

Today, on The Morning Thing, Marcy shared some biblical insight from Author, Jennifer Waddle. She wrote an article for Crosswalk.com called “5 Things You Need to Say NO to for a Good Marriage”.
Click HERE to read the full article.

It is easy to say NO to things that bother us – a telemarketer, kids who want to stay home from school or a child asking for more candy on the shopping trip.

Jennifer challenges us to consider these 5 things you can say “no” to in order to better your marriage.

1. Say “no” to social media comparison.
Say “no” to the damaging effects it can have. Stop scrolling! Stop following and lead the way.
Start thanking God for your spouse.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17)

2. Say “no” to too much work.
Having a work/life imbalance is one of the number one problems in marriages.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23 NLT)

3. Say “no” to too many friends.
Discuss all friendships with your spouse and develop solid boundaries surrounding them. Say “yes” to only those friendships that are supportive of you and your spouse. 
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

4. Say “no” to extended family.
Consider these questions the next time you feel pulled to say “yes” to family members. They may help you gain clarity and decide when it’s time to say “no.”

  • Are you putting your family member’s requests above your spouse’s needs?
  • Is there a guilt trip involved in your family member’s demands?
  • Does this family member have a bad habit of expecting you to drop everything for them?
  • Do they respect your spouse and your marriage?

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

5. Say “no” to debt.

Here are some resources to help you say “no” to debt and maintain financial health.

How to hire a financial advisor
Take control of your finances and career
Master your money

Jennifer Waddle is a Kansas girl, married to a Colorado hunk, with a heart to encourage women everywhere. She is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where “Discouragement Doesn’t Win!” She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth.

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The couples that pray together are stronger together!

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared some insight from author Lynette Kittle from Crosswalk.com

She created a powerful list for couples – 7 Ways Praying Together Strengthens a Couple’s Marriage

Click HERE to read the full article.

1. Praying Together Breaks Down Barriers

2. Praying Together Opens Hearts

3. Praying Together Brings Unity

4. Praying Together Prioritizes

5. Praying Together Cultivates Spiritual Connectivity

6. Praying Together Builds Camaraderie

7. Praying Together Brings Results

How to Begin Praying Together as a Couple

1. Voice your request. Express to your spouse how you would like to pray together. Ask his or her thoughts on what day, time, and location might work best for you as a couple to pray. If possible, be flexible and rearrange your schedule to do so.

2. Just do it. Rather than just thinking about it, set your time and begin praying together. Be committed to learning as you go in what pace and format works best for you and your spouse. Give yourselves time to adjust and adapt to each other’s way of praying.

3. Keep going. Your prayer time may start out awkward at first but don’t give up. Keep plugging away. Soon you’ll discover how prayer strengthens your marriage and draws you closer together as a couple.

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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Do you need a Marriage Detox?

Today on The Morning Thing, Marcy shared some insight on marriage from FamilyLife.

Have you ever done a detox?
The purpose is to take the bad stuff OUT, so that the GOOD stuff can help improve your body and your overall health.

Have you ever thought about a Marriage Detox?

Click HERE to read the full devotional from Janel Breitenstein.

What could a marriage detox look like?

Nix the junk food. 

  • Maybe it’s time for a social media fast or from criticism and divisive thoughts (1 Peter 3:8). 
  • It could be time to finally seek help for that porn problem. 
  • Perhaps you need to burn the romance novels, or distance yourself from a friend who doesn’t encourage you in your marriage.
  • You may need to relentlessly purge your home of possessions that fool you with false satisfaction, drawing you away from God and each other.

Snack on whole foods.

What would it look like to feed your marriage nutritiously and without contaminants, getting back to the basics? 

  • Could it involve reading the Word briefly together or praying together?
  • Would it be beneficial to review what media you consume together? 
  • Is it time to surround yourselves with a supportive community, rather than living on a marital island?

Get some air.

The overwhelmed, overcommitted, exhausted version of the two of you—and your marriage—isn’t one where any marriage thrives or heals. It’s hard to clear the byproducts, so to speak, of irritability, resentment, and feeling used or unseen. What’s one thing you could stand to clear from your schedule?

Get off the couch.

It could be time for your family to burn some of its energy for purposes beyond itself. After all, as Proverbs teaches us, when we refresh others, we will be refreshed ourselves (Proverbs 11:25).

Read on for ways to avoid letting social media ruin your marriage. 

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