Many issues are complex and need to be looked at from several angles. You might think of it as a beach ball – with each stripe a different color, all part of the larger picture. Each stripe represents another aspect to consider – your perspective, your spouse’s point of view, time, finances, each child individually, how it impacts others. Each part needs to be weighed and addressed in the final resolution.

Each of you contribute to the discussion. What are your perspectives, how do you see this impacting the family, the finances, etc. You can each think about it before you sit down to discuss it; this can help you take the emotion out of the decision making and stick to more logic-based decisions.