Scotch tape Construction paper
Stapler Cardboard pieces
Markers
Score: Have a third party (or another couple) score your tower. The
top score is 90. You get:
Up to 20 points for height
Up to 20 points for strength (stability)
Up to 50 points for beauty and originality.
Step 5: be tolerant OF each other's faults
Too often, a marriage gets bogged down in "if on lies." If only your
spouse were taller, richer, smarter, neater, or sexier, all of your
problems would vanish. As long as this attitude prevails, conflicts
will be very difficult to resolve. Until you accept your partner's flaws
and foibles, you will not be able to compromise successfully. Instead,
you will be on a relentless campaign to alter your spouse. Conflict
resolution is not about one person changing, it's about negotiating,
finding common ground and ways that you can accommodate each
other.
When you have mastered the general problem-solving skills
outlined in this chapter, you'll find that many of your problems find
their own solutions. Once you get past the barriers that have
prevented clear communication, difficulties are easy to resolve. In
fact, the next chapter offers some creative and simple solutions to
some of the most common conflicts couples face--money, sex,
housework, kids, work stress. But remember: These solutions work
only for problems that can be solved. If compromise still seems like a
distant goal to you, then the problem you are grappling with may not
be solvable after all. That means it's time to turn to the advice on
coping with perpetual problems in Chapter 10.