You can find them in every grocery store, office, playground and drop-off lane at the local elementary school.

The women who wipe their children's tears away, who selflessly serve day after day with little or no appreciation, who juggle working and parenting and sleepless nights and endless guilt, who love their husbands fiercely, who continually look after everyone's needs except their own. They are the women who quietly run the world.

And, if you're a woman reading this article, "they" probably means you.

I know the look in your eye. I know what it feels like to give everything and never feel like it's enough. I know what it feels like to wake up and wonder how you'll ever make it through the day. Please know that you are not alone.

To the husbands, we need you. We know that we can not walk the path of life alone. When we fall, we need you to catch us, and help us stand tall. We need you to wipe our tears away and hold us so tightly that it's almost difficult to breathe. We need you to comfort us when life becomes too hard to bear.

To the incredible men who love us, I know that it is hard to know what to do. I know that sometimes the right words are difficult to find. We want to help you help us. I asked women from all over the world to share their thoughts about how husbands can help their wives reset when they are stressed or overwhelmed. I hope these ideas are helpful to you:

1. Be aware of her responsibilities

Regardless of whether she stays at home or goes to work, do you know what she does all day? If you don't, ask her. Her to-do list is probably overflowing with tasks that far outweigh her time and energy. Be mindful of her needs and appreciative of her sacrifices.

2. Get involved BEFORE she burns out

The best time to begin helping your wife is now. Don't wait until she breaks down to offer a helping hand.

3. Be an active participant

It takes two to parent. It takes two to make a marriage work. It takes two to run a household. Be fully involved in every aspect of your family life. Work is hard, but your employment status doesn't give you permission to opt out of chores, disciplining and planning date nights.

4. Stop trying to fix her problems

Just listen. That's all you need to do. And if she wants you to offer solutions, she'll ask for them.

5. Hold her

Find something to keep your kids preoccupied, and then take your wife into your arms and tell her how much you love her. Hold her closely and let her cry into your shoulder. Comfort her the best way you know how.

6. Let her talk for as long as she needs

Sometimes the best way for a woman to reset is by getting all of her thoughts out. Let your wife talk through her feelings and problems. Show empathy. Listen carefully. Ask questions. Be fully engaged in the conversation.

7. Be a partner

Marriage is committing to share a life together. To carry one another's burdens. To cry with one another. To support one another through difficult times. Marriage means being one another's confidant, lover and friend. You aren't just two people living together. You are a beautiful union of two people who covenant to love each other forever.

8. Provide her hope

Encourage her. Let her know what you love about her. Help her see the good in any situation. Avoid being critical or negative. When she's hit rock bottom, be the man who lifts her up, and brings light and hope back into her life.

9. Be useful

Learn the art of looking around the house and finding things that need to get done. Are there dishes in the sink? Does the dog need to be walked? What is broken that needs to be fixed? Don't wait to be asked. Just do it!

10. Give her a day all to herself

Nothing feels better than getting a manicure, pedicure, hair cut, massage, and a new outfit. Let her sleep in, take a hot bath, and spend some quiet time alone. Support her and take over her day-to-day tasks, so she can have time to take care of herself.

11. Pray for her

Right before you go to bed, kneel down next to your bed together, hand in hand, and pray. Tell God how much you love your wife. Let him know what you appreciate about her. Ask for his help. Ask him to tell you how you can be a better spouse to her. Ask him to comfort her and help her see herself as He see her.

12. Ask her what you can do to help

Your wife knows what you can do to help her reset, so just ask her. She'll appreciate it more than you will ever know. Because, you know what? She loves you too, and she is grateful every day for what you do for her.

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The post How to Reset Your Wife When She’s Falling Apart appeared first on FamilyToday.

But no matter how bad your first peck may have been, it probably pales in comparison to the following Reddit posts. Here are 14 epic first kiss stories in all their adolescent glory:

1. That's going to leave a mark

2. Smart girl

3. Ew

4. That's one way to put a damper on things

5. Taking away man cards, one kiss at a time

6. Ouch!

7. Mmmm, boogers!

8. Scaredy cat

9. Duck!

10. That is seriously disgusting

11. Stay focused on the target

12. Gross

13. So sad!

14. Not romantic

How did your first kiss go? Share your story in the comments.

The post 14 painfully hilarious first kiss stories that’ll make you glad you’re not a teenager appeared first on FamilyToday.

Last month, NPR published an interview with Sandy Baum, an author who claims that the student loan crisis is, "manufactured by the media in search of a spicy story and fueled by politicians pushing 'debt free college' proposals."

As a student loan survivor, I disagree.

There is a student loan problem, and it's an issue.

At 21, I took the dive into students loans and left graduate school with a hefty bill. When I got married, and my husband began graduate school, I was making payments, but I didn't have a good plan. We realized quickly that we needed to make changes in order to have a stable financial future.

It took a lot of work, but as of this week, we are completely student debt free. In total, we were able to pay off over $65K in student loans. Here is how we did it:

Step 1: Commit to paying it off

You have to want it. Paying off your loans quickly requires effort, so if you're not fully committed to making changes, you're not going to be motivated enough to follow through with your plan.

You need to be willing to sacrifice now, so you can reap the benefits later. Paying off loans is painful, but it's worth it. As Dave Ramsey always says, "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." A little bit of pain now is worth a lot of freedom in the future.

Step 2: Create a loan amortization schedule

Knowledge is power. Knowing how much you owe, and how much you have to pay each month to pay off your loan is important information (information that most people don't know). A loan amortization schedule allows you to play around with monthly payments, to see how long it will take you to get through your loan.

Step 3: Set a goal

Decide on how much money you would like to put toward you student loan each month and then pay it religiously. No excuses. Don't let anything get in the way. As soon as you get paid, make the payment, so you're not tempted to use the money for anything else.

Step 3: Follow a budget

Budgeting sounds like a painful and awful activity, but it's really not that bad. If you're not comfortable with Excel, use an online budgeting tool instead. We used YNAB. Both my husband and I put it on our phone, so we could track purchases as soon as they were made.

Step 4: Cut costs

Be purposeful about how you spend your money and avoid unnecessary purchases. If you don't need it, don't buy it. In order to save money, we cancelled my gym membership, changed our insurance to a cheaper plan and cut out the amount of times we went out to eat each month. We also learned how to use coupons and learned to wait for things to go on sale.

Step 5: Pick up extra work

Over the past four years, we've taken on a variety of gigs from freelance writing to teaching a college course to designing product prototypes for budding entrepreneurs. It's not fun to work all day at your regular job and go home and work more, but a few extra dollars here and there are nice to have. That extra money not only allowed us to pay off loans faster, but it also helped us go on fun trips, help with wedding costs, buy laptops and new furniture, and get my husband through school.

Paying loans off quickly takes sacrifice and focus, but it's worth it. You'll never regret making sacrifices now, so you can have a better future.

If you're still not sure about what to do, I recommend reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. It's a great way to get started.

The post Here’s how I paid off over $65,000 in student loans in less than 4 years appeared first on FamilyToday.

Can a simple set of questions really make people fall in love?

In her Modern Love Essay, "To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This", author Mandy Len Catron argues that yes, they can.

Since 2015, her piece has captured the attention of millions of readers around the world. Her story revolves around a series of 36 questions, designed by researchers, that resulted in two strangers falling in love. Catron, wanting to pursue love in a more intelligent way, was curious about the technique and decided to put it to the test.

Did she fall in love? Yes, she did.

The 36 questions Catron referred to in her essay come from a study conducted by Dr. Arthur Aron, a psychology professor at the State University of New York. He wanted to find out if he could, "create closeness in an experimental context."

You can read the complete study here.

Here is how to put Dr. Aron's theory to the test. Below are three sets of questions. With your partner, take turns asking each other the questions in order. Once you've completed all the questions, spend four interrupted minutes looking directly in each other's eyes.

Set 1

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

4. What would constitute a "perfect" day for you?

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set 2

1. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

2. Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?

3. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

4. What do you value most in a friendship?

5. What is your most treasured memory?

6. What is your most terrible memory?

7. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

8. What does friendship mean to you?

9. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

10. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

11. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people's?

12. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

Set 3

1. Make three true "we" statements each. For instance, "We are both in this room feeling ... "

2. Complete this sentence: "I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... "

3. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

4. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you've just met.

5. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

6. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

7. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

8. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

9. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?

10. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

11. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

12. Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

If you are wondering if Carton and her boyfriend are still in love, yes, they are. However, in her essay, Cardon admits, "Although it's hard to credit the study entirely (it may have happened anyway), the study did give us a way into a relationship that feels deliberate ... Love didn't happen to us. We're in love because we each made the choice to be."

The post These 36 questions are designed to make anyone fall in love with you appeared first on FamilyToday.

According to a recent study, children who's mothers take acetaminophen during pregnancy are more likely to have behavioral problems.

Acetaminophen is commonly found in drugs like TYLENOL, Excedrin, NyQuil, Dayquil, Robitussin and Vicks and is used to reduce fevers and temporarily relieve pain.

In their study, Dr. Evie Stergiakouli and co-authors analyzed over 7,000 mothers and children to determine whether or not there was an association between prenatal acetaminophen use and behavior problems. They concluded that, "children exposed to acetaminophen use prenatally are at increased risk of multiple behavioral difficulties."

These behaviors include:

• Hyperactivity

• Conduct issues

• Emotional problems

The results are inconclusive and the authors advised women to carefully weigh the risks of not treating fever or pain against the potential harm of taking acetaminophen during pregnancy.

This isn't the first time this concern has been addressed.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety annoucnement in early 2015 encouraging women to carefully consider using pain medicines during pregnancy and to "always discuss all medicines with their health care professionals before using them."

If you are pregnant, and you are concerned about taking medicine with acetaminophen, consult with your doctor.

The post If you take pain killers during pregnancy, your child is more likely to have behavioral problems appeared first on FamilyToday.

Life is too short to be unhappy.

If you are having a bad day, or just need a little pick-me-up, here are 23 pictures that are bound to make you smile.

1. Oh my gosh, this.

2. Cute. Cute. Cute.

3. Proof that true love does exist.

4. First time meeting a puppet.

5. Adorable (in a weird way).

6. Taking spaghetti to the next level.

7. Discovering the television.

8. This grandpa is adorable.

9. Now THAT is love.

10. Figuring out how glass works.

11. This magic moment.

12. When you can't grow facial hair ...

13. So happy!

14. This is just too much.

15. Happiness.

16. Grandma to the rescue!

17. When you bring the dog on vacation.

18. The llama in the mirror!

19. This dad who's doing his job right.

20. This happy moment.

21. This girl.

22. The joy on her face.

23. #relationshipgoals

Share this article with someone who needs it.

The post 23 pictures that will bring you a lot of happiness appeared first on FamilyToday.

According to a recent study, checking your phone, instead of paying attention to your spouse, is hurting your relationship.

"Phubbing", as researchers call it, means ignoring your significant other, because you are distracted by your phone. It includes:

• Always keeping your phone in plain sight

• Glancing at your phone while you are talking

• Checking you phone when there is a lull in the conversation

• Holding your phone

You may not think that it's a big deal to check your phone when you're with your spouse, but it is.

Dr. James Roberts explains:

"Momentary distractions by one's cellphone during time spent with a significant other likely lowers the significant other's satisfaction with their relationship, and could lead to enhanced feelings of depression and lower well-being of that individual."

So if you want a better relationship, put your phone away.

If you get anxious being away from your phone, you may have an addiction. Here are some tips on how to detach yourself from your device:

1. Don't check your phone right when you wake up

Instead of scrolling through Facebook first thing in the morning, do something productive like exercise or meditate. You'll feel a lot better about the day.

2. Download a phone-usage tracker

You're probably not aware of how much time you actually spend on your phone. By downloading a smartphone-usage tracker, you can keep track of how much time you spend on your phone and work on cutting that time down.

3. Schedule social media time

Instead getting sucked into social media whenever you get bored, decide on two or three times a day when you can check all of your accounts, and then sign out for the rest of the day, so you don't get notifications.

4. Find other time fillers

If you find yourself reaching for your phone whenever you have free time, learn to fill that time with something else - like reading a book or working on a hobby.

5. Go on dates without your devices

Spend some quality time with your spouse without your phone, iPad, computer or kids. Look up the phone numbers to the places you're going and leave them with the babysitter (old school style). Your kids will be just fine, and your significant other will appreciate the quality one-on-one time.

No amount scrolling through Instagram or watching YouTube videos is ever going to make you as happy as being in a fulfilling, loving relationship. Show love to your spouse by putting your phone away.

The post Study finds that your phone is the reason why your relationship is struggling appeared first on FamilyToday.

It never feels good to look down at the shower drain and see a large ball of hair.

It's normal to lose about 50-100 hairs per day (which is a lot of hair), but if you're noticing a significant increase in the amount of strands you're shedding, then it's probably a sign that something is wrong.

It might be an underlying health problem, OR it could be something you are doing in your regular, everyday routine. Here are five things that experts say cause hair loss in women:

1. Dry shampoo

Women use dry shampoo in between washes to keep their hair looking fresh and clean. However, overusing dry shampoo can clog up your pores, resulting in scalp irritation, sores and bald patches.

Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, a board certified dermatologist told Glamour, "The more you build up the product with repeat or heavy-handed applications, the more it weighs on hair follicles, weakens them and even interrupts the typical growth cycle of the hair follicle."

Basically, if you use too much dry shampoo, you're going to have issues. Use it in moderation and make sure to wash your hair on a regular basis.

2. Oral birth control

Birth control pills are designed to suppress ovulation using a combination of progestin and estrogen. The American Hair Loss Association warns that, "Women who are predisposed to hormonal related hair loss or who are hypersensitive to the hormonal changes taking place in their bodies can experience hair loss to varying degrees while on the pill."

If your birth control pills are making you lose your hair, consider using non-hormonal birth control methods like condoms or an intrauterine device (IUD).

3. Dieting

Maybe your diet helps you lose weight, but it's also thinning your hair.

Hair loss is often the result of a nutritional deficiency. Lack of protein, vitamin A, vitamin B, biotin, vitamin C, iron and calcium are all cited as vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hair.

If you need to change the way you eat, remember to diet in moderation. Fad or extreme dieting is unhealthy and ineffective. Regular exercise and a balanced diet - full of the essential vitamins and minerals - is the best route to take.

4. High-heat appliances

Don't turn your hairdryer, curling iron or straightener on high heat.

Intense heat can severely damage your hair by breaking down the hair fiber's hydrogen bonds. According to Dr. Paradi Mirmirani, "Improper hair care is a common cause of hair loss and excessive or improper use of devices, such as flat irons ... cause lasting damage if left untreated."

The American Academy of Dermatology suggest setting your hair styling tools to 347 degrees Fahrenheit (or less) and avoid using them more than 2 or 3 times a week.

5. No sun

Dr. Qamar J. Khan found that individuals who lack normal levels of vitamin D experience hair loss. According to WebMD, "most vitamin D - 80% to 90% of what the body gets - is obtained through exposure to sunlight."

So if you don't make it a regular habit to get outside, you might want to change that. Not only will it help your hair, but vitamin D is also vital for your bone and skin health.

If you want to know if you have a vitamin deficiency, talk with your doctor. There are over-the-counter vitamins you can take, in addition to simple lifestyle and diet changes.

This list isn't comprehensive — there are plenty of other things that'll make you lose your hair, including: thyroid problems, genetics, your boss (just kidding), etc. Luckily, there are plenty of options to help you strengthen your hair follicles and restore your hair.

The post Experts say these 5 common things are making women lose their hair faster appeared first on FamilyToday.

Does he mean it when he says, "I love you?"

Those three special words have a lot of power. And when a man truly means what he says, there is no greater happiness in a relationship.

Here are 15 signs that he genuinely loves you, and he's never going to stop:

1. He willingly feels pain with you

Your pain is his pain. He suffers with you through a personal loss or cries with you when you've lost hope. A truly loving husband is willing to suffer and mourn with you.

2. He prefers "we" over "me"

There is no differentiation between your life and his life- it's all about your life together. He recognizes that your relationship is strengthened when you work together as a team. There is no room for selfishness. Every decision is made with "we" in mind.

3. He wants to change you

He loves you exactly the way you are. However, he also knows there are plenty of things you don't love about yourself that make you unhappy. Through his gentle feedback and love, he helps you find ways to change those weaknesses into strengths.

4. He makes your dreams him dreams

He knows your deepest desires and makes them his own. Whatever your goals are in life, he is right there beside you, helping you achieve them every step of the way. He cheers you on and invests in them personally.

5. His work isn't about him; it's about you

Going to work every day isn't always fun, but he is willing to do it, because it's his responsibility as a husband and father to take care of the family. In his mind, getting a promotion or raise isn't about elevating himself. It's about moving ahead, so he can better provide.

6. He protects your heart

There is nothing more important to him than how you feel. When life gets difficult, he is there to hold you close and kiss your tears away. No matter who, what or where he is there to fight for you.

7. He sacrifices for you

Maybe it's something as simple as giving up his Saturday afternoon to help you with a project, or something major like giving up his bonus, so that you can have something you want. His sacrifices are a sign that he puts your wants and needs in front of his own.

8. He checks in during the day

He thinks about you when you're apart. Those simple texts and short calls throughout the day are his way of letting you know that you're on his mind.

9. His kisses have meaning

The affection he shows you is thoughtful and meaningful.

10. He doesn't look

He only has eyes for you. He stays away from pornography, because he knows how destructive it can be in his own life and in your relationship.

11. He compliments on more than just your looks

He appreciates your kind heart, wisdom, talents and bravery. He loves you for more than just your physical appearance. He understands that what's on the inside is what matters the most.

12. He has no secrets

He doesn't keep things from you. You have full access to his life.

13. He knows your co-workers names

Actually, he knows a whole lot more than that. He can easily describe who drives you crazy (and why), and who you turn to on a bad day. The small details of your day matter to him.

14. He pushes barriers out of your way

If he could have it his way, he would get rid of anything and anyone who gets in the way of your success and happiness.

15. He thinks in terms of forever

The words "divorce" and "separation" are not a part of his vocabulary. When he committed to marriage, he didn't have an end in mind. No matter what difficulties you come up against, he is in it for good. Because when you truly love someone, that love can last forever.

If you truly care about your husband, you'll do the same for him as well.

The post 15 signs he really loves you (and he’s never going to stop) appeared first on FamilyToday.

Showing love to your husband doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant. A simple text can go a long way.

Words of love and affirmation are vital to a healthy relationship. Your husband wants to know that he is an important part of your life. (And he definitely doesn't mind getting a flirty, romantic message at work to help him through the day.)

If you're not quite sure where to start, here are 21 texts that will make your husband go crazy for you:

1. Let him know how he makes you feel

2. Tell him what he means to you

3. Compliment his good looks

4. Express your love for him

5. Clue him in that you are CRAZY about him

6. Be blatant about how attracted you are to him

7. Talk about the things you'd like to do with him

8. Confess how much you enjoy being with him

9. Let him know what you want

10. Give him your heart

11. Say something strange that he won't forget

12. Overwhelm him with sappiness

13. Build up anticipation

14. Mention that you enjoy being with him

15. Tell him how he's made your life better

16. Because you know it's the truth

17. Be a dork if you have to

18. Keep it short and sweet

19. Appreciate the good times

20. Use plenty of affirmative words

21. Leave no doubt

If none of these fit your style, a simple, "I love you," is enough. Your husband will appreciate the time you took to let him know how much he means to you.

What else would you add? Comment below.

The post 21 romantic texts that’ll make your husband crazy for you appeared first on FamilyToday.