UN-welcome home...

You are frustrated at work, you are caught in traffic, and you walk in the door and everyone hits you with their problems of the day. Welcome to the UN-welcoming home routine.

The unwelcoming home routine can be tough on marriages. Is there any research related to this phenomenon?

· EHarmony research concluded that relationship satisfaction declines when a partner talks about a bad event and the other partner isn’t supportive or actively listening

· The couple who experiences this event is more likely to argue the next day than the couple who is supportive and listening

· Research indicates that partners who share good events with a partner fosters a healtier relationship regardless of reaction and are less likely to argue.

· The more positive things that partners share the higher the likelihood that the other partner will share something positive and uplifting.

·

So what are some suggestions you might offer to insure the welcoming home is positive for the whole family?

· Make time for everyone to settle in and decompose after work and school

· Organize your work space, create your to dos prior to leaving work. Listen to music on your way home or relax listening to a audio book. Take a walk or perhaps go to the gym prior to coming home. This puts some closure on your day and relaxes your mood

· Talk after you’ve had time to decompose and have some time for yourself. Sometimes it’s even good to set a time limit on talking about stressful work issues

· Practice good listening skills. Focus on your partner and remember to be empathetic and compassionate (isn’t that what you’d want from your partner?).

Sit with a nice cup of tea, hot chocolate, or talk about the good parts of the day with your partner and children after dinner.