Ask and you shall receive (or find!!):  http://www.saintjohnvianneychurch.org/Examination of Conscience for Children.pdf

Its not exactly what I used before but will prove helpful to guide my kids.

That is a great resource- thanks for sharing!

My kids like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Going-Confession-Lawrence-G-Lovasik/dp/0899422209/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323383155&sr=8-1 It goes commandment by commandment, and has the steps to making a good confession, and some nice prayers too.

Whatever time we can get together we take!  When it works out that some kids will be out babysitting and others at a football game…and it would just be us home alone…we are headed out.  Away from the lists and chores and just us! WOW!!!
It doesn’t always have to be ‘fancy’ and expensive…just us together is pretty awesome.
When the kids were little…we would hide in our room with the door shut and talk…that first 15 minutes after Dad got home was OUR time.

Done.

I will pray the intercession of the Holy Family. And to Our Lady on this Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. God Bless you all.

My prayers are with you especially as we celebrate our holy Mother’s Feast today—-and the special value she holds for all families not just as the matriarch of the Holy Family and the Church Family.

And he argues about how I’m saying my issue, instead of what I’m saying, which makes the communication break down- is this a guy thing to argue over the use of the word, or is it a tactic?

If I were in your shoes right now I would go for a walk… even if it is raining where you are.  It can help clear your mind.  Then I would go home & lock myself in the bathroom and scrub my hands and feet with a mixture of olive oil (or butter) and sugar.  Then wash it off with soap and water, then comb my hair and touch up my make up.  The whole thing only has to take 15 or 20 minutes.  Don’t laugh.  It makes me feel fresher and prettier & I’m a more patient person when I feel better about myself.  THEN… I would drop the Holy Day issue since its over.  Just put it out of your brain until next time (Jan 1… or is that a Sun. this year too?)  You can’t make him remember the Holy day but you may have better results if you post a note w/ Mass times where he’ll see it & then either express happiness (if he goes) or sadness (NOT anger) if he does not,  Your anger seems to keep things stirred up, based on what you wrote (not saying that’s your fault, but if you want different results you have to work with what’s there, right?)  As far as the X-mas budget goes, I’d drop it for a few days if you can & revisit it as a refreshed person who says NOTHING if hubs attacks you (do not defend!  His guilt will eventually kick in and he will quit attacking if you stay calm, innocent, and gentle/patient.)  Don’t change your mind about the budget, don’t get ruffled; revisit the conversation a zillion times if you have to, but remain quietly & gently immovable without getting upset.  If you start to get upset, excuse yourself and say you cantalk later when you feel more composed.  Do not blame him for being about to loose composure.  He will start to blame himself, will feel woorse and worse about the sadness, worry, etc. (but not anger) he is causing you.  I think he will come around.  It works for us… and sounds like at least it is worth a try for ya’ll… best of luck!!

R,
I am so sorry for both of you.  In answer to your question, “Is this normal?” I guess I would say, “yeah,” and remind you about that long-garden, the first man & woman & a whole argument about an apple & who ate it first, who gave it to whom, etc.
That said, I’m sure it broke God’s heart in the garden & it breaks his heart today, to see couples turning against each other instead of joining together.  (Not that it’s any picnic for us to go thru it, either.)

Anyway, since it seems like the issue is communication, I hope you don’t mind if I dump a bunch of resources & run:
-Dr.Ray Guarendi’s new book on marriage (very recent, can’t remember the name!)
-Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
-a website called “What Women Never Hear” http://www.wwnh.wordpress.com, run by an 80 something ex-military guy and his wife and son.
-www.MaritalHealing.com, a Catholic practice w/good reading & webinars/videos online
-www.ForYourMarriage.org, the USCCB site

and my own tips, learned the hard way:
-“up” your frequency of Confessions.  Try to wait ‘til you’re fresh from absolution, in a state of grace, before you start a difficult discussion w/dh. 
-be merciful.  Be the first to initiate some tenderness, even when you’re choking back bitter resentment.  Bite your tongue and offer to rub his feet together on the couch, no strings attached, while you talk & reconnect.
-ask yourself this: If an acquaintance came to the door while you both were in foul moods & bickering, would you be able to pull yourself together & be polite & pleasant for a short time?  Wouldn’t just a short time of polite & pleasant be soothing & helpful to your marriage on your worst days?
-remember that our “job” during this short life is to gain Heaven, & do all that we can to help our spouse & children join us there…

Funny, I just came here to see if I could find some sympathy as DH and I just had yet another fight over $. As in there is none. Again. As always. Tired of being poor. Tired of fighting. Tired of my husband’s rude replies (I’m sure mine are no better). So, R, you are not alone. I’ll pray for all of us.

yes, this is normal.  my husband and i touch on subjects close to this and then some.  as a full time out of home worker i still do most of the house work and my husband pulls the same ‘i’m tired from work card’.  to offset my insanity i’ve pulled the our four children into the housework mix which has helped greatly.  as for communication we do Marriage Encounter’s dialogue.  it’s worked really well for us because what i say is not necessarily what he has heard.  God bless and guide you.

I was just getting on here to see if anyone else had seen that. Prayers to them.

I just saw that, too. What a heartbreak for her and her family. They’re in my prayers.

So sad.  And I’m sure that Michelle Duggar of all people would concur that it doesn’t matter how many children you have, a miscarriage is an emotional whammy to the gut. Literally.

Praying she will get the rest and recovery her body needs before she conceives again.  It is alot to lose a baby in the 2nd trimester and it makes it harder now that she is 45.