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15 things every man should secretly whisper to his wife
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They might seem simple to you, but hearing these things will make a world of a difference to her. - photo by Amberlee Lovell
Despite popular stereotypes, women are actually not very complicated creatures. We just want to be loved! And these phrases are an easy way to help your wife feel that way. They might seem simple to you, but hearing these makes a world of difference to a woman when her husband takes the time to say them (and means it).

Your zipper is down.

There is nothing more embarrassing than coming home from a party only to notice your zipper is down, there is food in your teeth or mascara all over your face. Save your wife from horrifyingly wondering how long there was a long smear of black down her cheek by pulling her aside and letting her fix it.

What do you think?

This shows her you consider and value her opinion over all others. She needs to be your partner, and counseling with her is a simple way to show her that she is.

I noticed that you

didnt complain when I left my mess out. Or, I noticed you left work early enough to make dinner for us. Whatever her sacrifices are, let her know they dont go unnoticed.

Youre so beautiful.

This needs to be whispered DAILY. Even the most confident women have their days of wondering and worrying if their looks are enough.

Note: Not all complimentary words are created equally. Beautiful, stunning and gorgeous rank the highest in compliments. Pretty, cute and nice, while still flattering, are less likely to make her swoon.

We cant afford it.

Shell thank you for this someday when you arent paying off loads of credit card debt. Self-control shows love more than indulgence.

Lets just cuddle.

Sometimes your lady really needs a hug and just that. Sit and talk while cuddling without the expectation that sex has to come after. It just so happens that women who hug their partner more frequently also have a lower heart rate and blood pressure, according to this study.

Thank you.

Dont forget the little things. Pull her in close and tell her youre grateful for her making the bed, or filling up the car with gas.

Let me clean up.

The way to a womans heart is through housework. Do the dishes on an evening when its not your night.

Youre a really great mom.

The No. 1 feeling mothers feel the most intensely is doubt on how they are doing as a mother, according to an article on DigiDay. If there is anyone that can help her feel like she is doing a good job, its her husband. Tell her specifically why she is a good mother to your children.

Im proud of you.

When was the last time she heard this from anyone? There is a lot to be proud of her for, and she deserves to hear it from someone.

I love you.

Its impossible to say this too much. Dont assume she knows it. Say it at least once every day.

Ill love you no matter what.

There is so much in life that makes you feel unworthy. No matter what she is going through, she needs to know your feelings wont change for her if she makes a mistake.

Its OK.

Similar to the point above, she needs you to forgive her for when she messes up. Relationships have a way of highlighting our greatest flaws, and its sometimes pretty embarrassing. Forgive her quickly and vocally. Dont leave her wondering if youre still harboring bitterness.

Why dont you take a night out?

Every lady needs one of these, but especially a young mom. Whether its with her friends, or on her own, let her go do what she needs to do to unload.

Im so glad I chose you.

She knows you said I do once, but are you still saying it? Choose to be happy with her every day, and let her know that shes still your number one.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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