Discussing discipline and areas of potential disagreement in parenting is always best when the issue is not on the fire. Talk about issues that are on the back burner before they arise. For example, discuss the importance of weaning your baby to the bottle before you have already begun the process. Good communication and releasing stress are great ways to help your marriage. When work, bills, children, health, or simply aspects of daily living begin to create a wedge between you and your partner, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to improve your marriage. Where can you turn for marriage help? There are many avenues to travel to help your marriage. You may want to think about the particular aspect of your marriage that you feel needs the most help. Children, spouses, and abusers all need treatment and marriage help to get through this rough time. Domestic violence and abuse occurs when the abuser feels their worst. The abusive individual has low self-esteem. The lack of confidence often brings the perpetrator to lash out resulting in the domestic violence or abuse. You and your partner may be introduced to new information, alternative support techniques, and valuable friendships. If you are a member of a religious organization, now would be a fine time to discuss the final plans and wishes of your spouse. Someone from the clergy can discuss at length the religious relationship with death in your beliefs. It is not healthy to allow your mate to walk all over you and get what he or she wants all of the time. A balance needs to be reached between partners in a marriage. If each partner feels that they are not giving up all of their needs, dreams, and desires, the relationship will flourish. A marriage gets into trouble and needs help when this balance gets out of whack. Taking the first step to recovery will create the best environment to help your marriage. You are not alone. Help for you and your family is available. For family members of an alcoholic, Al-anon is a group devoted to support and help for the family. If your spouse has an alcohol addiction and it is affecting your marriage, seek help and support through Al-anon.