INPUT ARTICLE: Article: During a heated argument, it can be tempting to say some hurtful things.  Instead of attacking with your words, carefully select what you want to say and make it a constructive message.  You can still speak your mind and express yourself honestly, so long as you aren't using your message to hurt your partner.  Use “I” statements such as “I feel....” or “I would like...” Ask for input.  Say something like “What do you think about...” Listen carefully and openly to anything your spouse might say. Be honest and speak your mind in a calm and fair manner. When things get too emotional, a discussion might turn into a shouting competition.  Yelling at one another will do another but cause harm to the relationship.  Loud outbursts should be avoided at all costs when trying to improve your marriage.  Yelling will not convey any useful message you may have hoped to get across. You are allowed to have and feel emotions.  However, they cannot become angry outbursts during a discussion. If one person tries to make all the choices in a relationship, it can lead to the other party feeling dis-empowered or undervalued.  Choices that can involve both people, should.  Try to keep both your own and your spouse's needs in mind when discussing any plans.  Work towards options that are best for both partners. Don't try to force a choice to get your way.  Decisions should be cooperative, not competitive. Whenever your spouse is talking to you, practicing active listening can help her feel like she is being heard.  You will be able to more fully engage in a conversation with your spouse by carefully listening to what she is saying and giving cues that you are paying attention.  Restate things your spouse has said.  "I just want to make sure I understood..." Summarize what you heard.  "It sounds like..." Use encouragers like "oh", "I see", or "mmhmm" Validate what is being said.  "I'm glad you brought this up." Allow for silences.  Don't jump in the moment your spouse is done talking. Passive-aggressive behavior is when you may act nicely to a person, while feeling resentful and working in secret to undermine her.  Often times, being afraid of direct conflict or expressing one's feelings can result in passive-aggressive behavior.  By avoiding engaging in passive-aggressive behavior, you can help reduce the harm that it can cause to your marriage.  Watch your behavior and try to find what causes you to act passive-aggressively. Practice being assertive and honest with your negative feelings. Realize that being passive-aggressive is a form of lying. Keep in mind that it's perfectly normal and healthy to have disagreements.

SUMMARY: Speak constructively. Avoid yelling. Make decisions together. Actively listen. Avoid being passive-aggressive.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Tires and mattresses work best because they absorb some of the shock from the floor when you’re wrestling. Lay the tires or mattresses on the ground inside the frame so they’re in a flat, even layer that stretches across the whole floor space.  You can find cheap, old mattresses at your local thrift store. Reach out to your local junkyard to see if they have old tires you can use for your ring. Use only tires or only mattresses for your ring. Use plywood sheets that are at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. The size and number of sheets you’ll need depends on how large your ring is. If your ring is small enough, you may be able to use 1 large plywood sheet. When you have the plywood sheets cut to size, drill or hammer them into the pieces of wood running between the posts. Padding the floor of your wrestling ring will soften the impact when you're wrestling on it. Use thin mattress padding that’s about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. The tarp will protect the padding and plywood from bad weather, and it will make your ring look more professional. After you lay the tarp on the floor, pull it as tight as possible and drill or hammer it into the sides of the frame.

SUMMARY: Line the bottom of your wrestling ring frame with tires or mattresses. Cover the square frame of your ring with sheets of plywood to make a floor. Cover the plywood floor with mattress padding. Lay a tarp over the floor and fasten it to the sides of the frame.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: . Ask your parents to pay you for doing certain chores around the house on a weekly basis. If your parents don’t want to give you an allowance for doing work, try explaining to them that by giving you an allowance, you won’t need to rely on your parents every time you go out.  Earning an allowance is like a job. By getting paid for your services you can start to build a great work ethic that will help you as you get older. Come up with a proposal for your parents. Make a schedule for the week and write down what sort of tasks you are willing to do and how much you think those tasks are worth. Then, you and your parents can negotiate your allowance. lean your house. Cleaning rooms in your home is a great way to earn an allowance. Whether you agree to clean the windows, dust, or vacuum, there are plenty of tasks you can complete to earn your allowance.  Keeping your own room clean may not be enough for an allowance. Chances are your parents think that you should be responsible for keeping your room clean on your own. So offer to go above and beyond and clean other rooms in the house. Discuss with your parents about how much each room or chore may pay you. Maybe cleaning the hallway doesn’t pay as much as the dining room, since the hallway is much smaller and takes less time. Doing seasonal, outside housework is another great way to earn an allowance since it’s work your parents may not have time, or want to do themselves.  Offer to rake leaves, shovel snow, mow the lawn, and weed gardens. If you’re doing a seasonal, but consistent chore like mowing the lawn or shoveling your driveway, you can talk to your parents about a set rate for each time you do this chore. If you’re raking leaves, try negotiating an hourly rate.

SUMMARY:
Ask your parents for an allowance . Do outside chores.