This Is Where It Gets A Little....

So, because I am Catholic, Jack and I were required to attend marriage preparation classes. Going into this situation we thought we were going to D.I.E.!!! We did NOT want to go to them. We eventually got used to the idea, and started becoming a little more open minded about them.



We went to our first classes at St. Robert's in Flushing. There were many speakers over the weekend. There were many subjects that were covered. The two subjects that stuck out in our minds the most were the communication topics and the family planning topics... ewwww.



We enjoyed learning about how to communicate successfully because we both know too many couples who's relationships suffer because they are not good at talking without getting mad or sassy or pissy or whatever with each other while in a fight/argument. One of the things I remember them talking about involved taking time to listen to and hear what the other has to say. It helps to repeat back in different words to the other person to demonstrate that you hear what they are saying. Staying civil and low-toned helps get each other's points across. I would put money on the fact that we are a better couple because we took this class.

WARNING! MAY BE TOO MUCH INFORMATION FOR SOME PEOPLE!!!!

As far as the family planning class went, we learned tons about what direction we wanted our lives to take. We learned that there are different methods of birth control, if you will, that the Catholic church agrees with. One of the ways is the thermometer method. The thermometer method involves buying a basal thermometer and taking my temperature every single morning before I get out of bed. Simple. The other part to this method involves tracking the temperature on a chart. There are a certain number of days in a month that a woman can conceive a baby. My temperature will tell me what those days are, and what days are days that one can do things that would make a baby!!



We chose this method because we decided that we wanted a baby. We were both getting older. We both decided that we wanted to try and conceive a baby that could be born during the summer (or, at least, NOT during the school year). So, while all wedding plans were coming along smoothly, we decided in June that we would start tracking my temperature/ovulation, and start trying to make a baby in September...and OF COURSE, plans always work out the way they should, right???