Why do moms struggle with self-care? When I had our daughter, Effie, my mom would come over and offer to watch her while I got my nails done. I wasn’t really ready to leave the house without her. I felt guilty and nervous and too sweaty and disheveled for public consumption. But it was an incredibly generous offer, and it was not lost on me how special it was that I had family who was close and willing to help. However, the reality of this little excursion outside the house was that Effie would usually make it about twenty minutes before she’d start screaming for me to come home and feed her ..read more

  You’re stuck in a never ending routine of working, grinding through dinner and clean up, tucking the kids in (if you have any) and then heading straight to bed where you pass out or turn on the tv and zone out. To say you and your partner are like two ships crossing in the night is the ultimate understatement. You feel more like two ships docked in totally different oceans. Here’s what you need to know if you’re in a season of life like this… IT’S NORMAL BUT NOT SUSTAINABLE Busy seasons are part of all relationships, after all life regularly pulls your relationship apart. However, so ..read more

I NEED AN ESCAPE FROM MY LIFE I literally said this the other day under my breath in a huff while gathering: water bottles, snacks, shoes, sunscreen, hats, a check to deposit at the bank, + 3 packages to return to UPS…crap I need to call the insurance company. My dad called, “can you talk for a minute about creating a giveaway for this conference I’m going to?”….yeah sure…drops all the things I’ve gathered. My blood pressure rising + my patience dwindling. Ok, so I can add that to the list of things to get done today..maybe when the kids go to bed…… “Oh and don’t forget to pick up Teddy’s meds ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER   Have you heard about the Enneagram and wonder what it is all about? Christa Hardin joins Dr. John and Dr. Morgan to clearly explain this tool that has helped so many individuals and couples. For years, she has provided enneagram coaching and resources specifically for couples in marriage (https://www.enneagraminyourmarriage.com). If you’ve ever wondered how someone discovers their Enneagram type, you’ll love how Christa breaks down the key questions to ask to  discover yours and helps John figure out his Enneagram type during the episode. Some o ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER   In this episode of the Love Thinks podcast, Dr. John Van Epp and Dr. Morgan Cutlip sit with Tricia Fox and Dave Ransom who are a married couple of two young children.  Dave and Tricia share their experience transitioning from a couple to parents. They share relatable moments and struggles and also how they navigated through growing stronger and more connected. Some of the main takeaways include: 1.You may struggle to connect with your child immediately Dave shared his shame and struggle around feeling a lack of immediate connection with their ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER   In this episode of the Love Thinks podcast, Dr. John Van Epp and Dr. Morgan Cutlip share how they began working together as a father-daughter team to serve people in their relationships. They share stories of some of the earliest experiences of Dr. Morgan’s life and how they shaped her interest in helping people’s relationships and how Dr. John inspired and nurtured this interest. They also talk about Dr. John’s contributions to the world of relationship education.  If you’ve ever been curious about understanding the history of Dr. John and Dr ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER   This is our third podcast interview on the topic of the “mental load.” Dr. Brooke Weinstein joined Dr. John and Dr. Morgan to share how she has successfully learned to carry her mental load while keeping her own self-care a high priority. Her story is inspiring with many diverse and challenging chapters: a wife with a husband struggling with depression; a mother of two boys (now 8 and 5); a working mom with a thriving practice; an almost divorced and later, widowed solo-parent. And yet, through all these experiences she has been resilient to continue ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER     It takes courage to share aspects of your life and marriage on a podcast, and something beyond courage to talk about personal failures. Peter and Alex personify this exceptional courage, as they share about a dark time of betrayed trust in their marriage and how they were able to build back their love and trust. Dr. John and Dr. Morgan sat down with Alex and Peter, parents of three kids, ages 5-9, and were amazed at the grace and wisdom they expressed in their relationship over the last few years of working through an emotional affair. Here a ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER   Because Dr. John and Dr. Morgan are a father-daughter team, they are in a really unique position to discuss this often-overlooked area of how parents can engage with their elementary kids about their crushes… and yes, they said “elementary” kids! Dr. John’s book, How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk, is written for teens and especially adults about building healthy romantic relationships, practicing positive relationship virtues, and ultimately, choosing a life partner who is truly compatible. However, it is amazing how many of those same concep ..read more

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER   We are continuing to focus on this vital aspect of personal and relational health: the “mental load.” In this podcast, the second of three on the topic, Dr. John and Dr. Morgan sat down with Charity and Ted to explore how they deal with their mental loads. They have been married 20 years and are in the hectic season of raising four kids, ages 9-16. Although no one is perfect, they are a wonderful couple who were encouraged by friends and family to write a book about their marriage (Staying I Do) because their relationship modeled what a lov ..read more