Hubby's Support Key to Marital Teamwork in Natural Family Planning

September 19, 2010 - 1:27 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

GLENVIEW, IL (September 19, 2010) - The following is a column by Ann Gundlach, from the July-August 2010 issue of "Family Foundations," the publication of the Couple to Couple League International (CCL). Gundlach is the magazine's editor. The issue was devoted to the dads involved in Natural Family Planning (NFP).

* * *

I can't pass up the opportunity to talk about the NFP dad in my life - my husband, Greg. If your idea of the typical NFP guy involves him lovingly handing his wife the thermometer every morning and recording the temperature at night, Greg isn't anywhere in that picture. But he has still played an indispensable role in our successful practice of NFP for 26 years.

Greg has worked in various positions for the same company since he graduated from college, but all of them had required a very early start to the workday. Most of those years (including now) have him out of the house by 3:00 a.m. Even during the times when he went in "later," that meant around 5:00 a.m. As for weekends or vacations, Greg found it much easier to keep pretty much to the same schedule, so "sleeping in" still means he gets up before 6:00 a.m. I could probably count on just my two hands the number of times Greg has still been in our bedroom at the time I take my temperature. So I'm on my own for that as well as the other observations.

What about recording and interpreting? It turns out that I don't see him all that much in the evenings, either. His early rise demands he be early-to-bed as well; ideally, that is by 7:00 p.m. At that time, I've still got hours to go in my day and am not ready for the day's recording.

Given our schedules, it has always just worked best for me to handle the mechanics of the method on my own and to keep him posted on the status of my cycle. He certainly knows which drawer my chart is kept in and has been known to keep a pretty close eye on it himself at times, but we have become very comfortable with him having little-to-no involvement in the day-to-day aspects of the method.

And yet, with all the emphasis on the benefits of the shared responsibility of NFP, why do I not feel unfairly burdened? It's because Greg has shown his support of our NFP use and breastfeeding in so many other ways. For example:
• He has never seriously complained or pressured me (at least that I can remember!) about having to deal with times of abstinence, even during those often-frustrating postpartum times.
• He has never asked that we switch to some other form of family planning.
• He was so supportive during the years I was breastfeeding! He gave me little breaks from the kids whenever he could. He gave me time for girls' nights out when I needed them. He defended my long-term nursing to questioning relatives. He didn't mind being the only couple among dozens with a nursing baby along when he earned a sales contest trip. And, he only occasionally complained about sharing our bed with a nursing baby, but that was only when it really was interfering with him getting enough sleep.

Some learner couples struggle with figuring out how to share the responsibility of NFP, often because they get the idea that it's the husband's "job" to manage the thermometer. That really is just a suggestion, albeit a good one that would work for many couples. But if you start from a place of respect and self-gift toward your spouse, every couple can learn to navigate the ins and outs of NFP in their own unique way, finding that comfortable place where it all works for them and they feel like a team -- no matter who is managing the thermometer.

Embrace your Faith

Natural Family Planning Classes Taught

Classes in Natural Family Planning are taught in 17 locations in the Chicago metro area, including southeast Wisconsin and northeast Indiana. The next series of classes will begin Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., at Holy Family Hospital, Des Plaines, taught by Lloyd & Monica Cassidy.

To register, and for a list of classes throughout the U.S., go to CCL International at www.ccli.org, (800) 745-8252. Chicago area NFP information is at www.naturalfamilyplanningchicago.com.

The method taught is the Sympto-Thermal Method, which is also taught via CylePRO software. Sign up for a membership with the Couple to Couple League International at www.ccli.org, and receive "Family Foundations."

Contact

Couple to Couple League of Chicago
http://www.naturalfamilyplanningchicago.com
IL, 60025 US
Monica Cassidy - , (800) 745-8252

Keywords

natural,family,planning,NFP,couple,league,ccl,Catholic,Chicago,il,Illinois, ,birth,control,pill

Category

Catholic Organizations

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 7,177

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

When Pope Francis Arrives in North America, There is Only One Network to Watch: EWTN Global Catholic
EWTN Global Catholic Network
September 16, 2015 - 5:17 PDT

GHIRELLI'S WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ROSARIES NOW AVAILABLE
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
September 11, 2015 - 11:44 PDT

The Synod on the Family: Addressing the Instrumentum Laboris
Franciscan University of Steubenville
September 11, 2015 - 10:26 PDT

OCP Artist, Pedro Rubalcava, Writes Song for Pope Francis' Visit
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
September 10, 2015 - 2:50 PDT

Pre-Synod Conference unites Cardinals and men and women living with homosexual tendencies
September 09, 2015 - 2:58 PDT

The Rigging of a Vatican Synod
September 02, 2015 - 3:44 PDT

17 Cardinals and Counting
August 31, 2015 - 3:38 PDT

19th Annual Carnival Announced for St. Ann's Parish
August 28, 2015 - 9:20 PDT

The John Paul II International Film Festival Marks Its Five-Year Anniversary
August 27, 2015 - 6:09 PDT

OCP Pledges to Support the V Encuentro
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 27, 2015 - 2:51 PDT

Thu, Sept 24, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Angelos Sebastian Our Lady of Grace Catholic Chu
August 26, 2015 - 4:03 PDT

Grief, Death, Eternal Life Explored in New Catholic Title by PBM
Pauline Books & Media
August 25, 2015 - 3:55 PDT

How do we live the truth in love when the culture says we're haters?
August 25, 2015 - 9:52 PDT

Right Next to Disneyland: Theater Meets Faith
Saint Luke Productions
August 19, 2015 - 1:29 PDT

OCP Parish Grant Program to Distribute $200,000 to U.S. Parishes
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 18, 2015 - 1:23 PDT

Franciscan University Joins With UK School to Offer Online Master of Catechetics Degree
Franciscan University of Steubenville
August 05, 2015 - 2:20 PDT

CONOR GALLAGHER NAMED PUBLISHER OF TAN BOOKS AND SAINT BENEDICT PRESS
Saint Benedict Press & TAN Books
July 20, 2015 - 12:49 PDT

Thérčse Drama Surprises Audiences
Saint Luke Productions
July 16, 2015 - 12:35 PDT

Catholic Press Association Honors Liguori
Liguori Publications
July 10, 2015 - 8:29 PDT

Crosier Order elects master general and councilors
June 26, 2015 - 2:06 PDT

Shop Holy Cards

World Library Publications Honored With Three Paul Revere Awards
World Library Publications
June 23, 2015 - 4:11 PDT

Indie Catholic Authors June Ebook Sale Offers the Faithful 17 Books Outside the Mainstream
Four Waters press
June 23, 2015 - 12:10 PDT

Limitless Love in Action: First Steubenville Youth Conference Inspires Teens to Bring the Fire Home
Franciscan University of Steubenville
June 18, 2015 - 2:03 PDT

Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletic Director Enshrined in Sports Faith Hall of Fame
Franciscan University of Steubenville
May 29, 2015 - 1:53 PDT

AWARD-WINNING CATHOLIC AUTHORS TEAM-UP TO PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
Pauline Books & Media
May 27, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

NY CONCERT FOR NEPAL 5/31
May 27, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

Who's responsible for designing the designer?
May 19, 2015 - 11:12 PDT

Thu, Jun 11, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Bill Adams at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
May 13, 2015 - 4:21 PDT

Your search for true happiness is over
May 05, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

ValLimar Jansen's latest album "a soulful experience"
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
April 30, 2015 - 1:33 PDT

Uncovering the roots (and branches) of the greatest revolution in the American Catholic Church
April 28, 2015 - 9:45 PDT

NYC May 8, 2015 Spring Fling Catholic Singles Mingle Fundraiser
The Catholic Fellowship
April 18, 2015 - 9:07 PDT

Thank A Nun Day
Image Books/Random House
April 15, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

#TweetingwGod dares young people to believe
April 14, 2015 - 9:54 PDT

Experience Beloved: Finding happiness in marriage
April 13, 2015 - 1:27 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts to participate in 'Beloved' telepress conference
April 07, 2015 - 4:51 PDT

Nobis Media, Marketing & Web Development Company
April 01, 2015 - 5:49 PDT

Catholic toymaker puts Faith in hands and mouths of babies: Pope Francis doll added to line of toys
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
April 01, 2015 - 3:48 PDT

Concert Series Concludes with Winthrop University World Percussion Ensemble
April 01, 2015 - 2:48 PDT

Birth Choice Health Clinics Announces Transition to Obria Medical Clinics and Plans for Expansion
March 28, 2015 - 10:43 PDT

Free RCIA classes for Students and Catechists from Catholic Online School

OCP releases expanded edition of Mass of the Sacred Heart
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 24, 2015 - 4:43 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts participate in 'Beloved' tele-press conference
March 21, 2015 - 11:57 PDT

Priest and Seminarian Join National Three-Point Contest to Benefit Marriage Ministry
Paradisus Dei
March 13, 2015 - 10:20 PDT

Shroud of Turin Exhibit At Holy Spirit Brighton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School
March 12, 2015 - 3:58 PDT

Flor y Canto campaign invites the Hispanic community to share their stories
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 11, 2015 - 4:40 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 10, 2015 - 6:36 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 09, 2015 - 7:04 PDT

Join RealOptions 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run!
RealOptions Pregnancy Medical Clinics
March 09, 2015 - 2:40 PDT

New Orchestra Comes to Mary's Nativity Church
March 09, 2015 - 12:06 PDT

Paradisus Dei Offers New Marriage Program to Churches at No Cost
Paradisus Dei
March 05, 2015 - 6:25 PST

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »