Ask the Expert

Dear CMR,

I have been dating my girlfriend for five years, and I’m getting ready to propose. She has taken out loans to pay for grad school, but I have a nest egg I can use to pay them off now. If we are getting married in 1.5 years, should I pay off her school loan now or wait until we are married?

Signed,

Avoiding Debt

Dear CMR:

My husband and I are in crisis and on the brink of breaking up. We don't want to because we have two kids, but something has to change. What initial steps should we take in mending the relationship?

Signed, Fed Up

Is stress putting stress on your marriage? In this week's Ask the Expert, Marriage and Family Therapist Aundrea Paxton provides three practical tips to work as a team during times of stress.

Dear CMR,

My school just announced that we will be going online in the fall and I am really upset. It’s been hard to adjust to life at home with my parents and I feel like we are each reverting back to how our dynamic was in high school. How do I survive this semester at home?

Signed,

Home Alone

Dear CMR,

I went through a tough breakup at the beginning of quarantine, and I am really struggling. I am usually able to distract myself with friends and activities while going through heartbreak, but sheltering at home has made this difficult. How do I process what I am going through without falling into a pit of despair?

Signed,

Hurting

Do you find yourself settling for crappy relationships more often that not? Today's Ask the Expert from professional counselor and speaker Debra Fileta will encourage you to see yourself for what you are truly worth: loved, valued, and worthy.

Everyone grieves differently, so it can be hard to know how to best support each other through grief. In today's Ask the Expert, Marriage and Family Therapist Willa Williams outlines three practical ways to be there for a friend who is grieving.

What should we do regarding our finances in difficult times? In today's Ask the Expert, Senior Director of Advancement Dr. Rick Bee combines financial expertise with Biblical wisdom to encourage financial planning amidst economic uncertainty.