Articles from Michael Becker

Going From Attraction to Flaw

It’s no secret that opposites attract. So, for example, an introvert might marry an extrovert, who might help him or her better navigate anxiety-provoking social situations.

But the at-first attractive ‘opposite’ trait can become a real problem over time (think: the same introvert who now wants to spend Saturday evening at home with the kids, but the extrovert still wants to socialize). And it usually doesn’t take long for these issues to arise, says Penn State University professor and researcher Diane Felmlee.

Felmlee recommends ways for partners to deal with this common relationship issue. One is for partners to remind themselves of the qualities that first attracted them to their mates — and how they still appreciate them. Another is considering how your partner provides balance in your life.

Recent Articles

New Child Support Guidelines

After more than ten years, Connecticut’s child support guidelines have been updated. The changes are effective August 1, 2026. A key change is that the new child support chart captures higher net family income. It now covers families with net weekly income up to $6,000 (equivalent to about $400,000 of annual income), up from $,4,000…

Late-Life Splits: Surprising Impacts on Adult Children

Divorce rates for those over 50 — known as ‘gray divorce’ — have surged from 9% in 1990 to about 36% today. This trend has been evident in my 30 years as a divorce mediator. Some guess that with longer lifespans, older spouses are less willing to stay in unfulfilling marriages. Gray divorce deeply affects…

529 Accounts Get a Power Boost

The recent tax bill passed by Congress has significantly expanded the benefits of 529 education savings accounts. These accounts still grow tax-free and allow tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses, but the list of such expenses has broadened considerably. Previously limited mainly to college costs, and up to $10,000 annually for K-12 tuition, the new…

The Ultimate Pre-Marriage Checklist

A friend recently told me her son is delaying his marriage. The couple discovered some disagreements about how they envisioned being married. It gave me the opening to share the short book The Hard Questions: 100 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Say “I Do” with my friend. I recommend it highly to anyone considering…