Relationship Experts Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham Return ...

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little to the marriage,” Dr. Gary Smalley comments. He adds, “Every hour a parent is not working is given with a big bow on top to the kids. To not do so makes ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Media Contact: Vicky Lynch (630) 362-8829 [email protected]

Relationship Experts Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham Return with a New Book That Speaks to Today’s Busy Parents Who Just May Be Great Parents, Lousy Lovers [Carol Stream, IL]— “Parents today are rushing their kids from karate to dance, while doing homework in the car and grabbing a bite in the drive-through. We give all our time and energy to the kids, and very little to the marriage,” Dr. Gary Smalley comments. He adds, “Every hour a parent is not working is given with a big bow on top to the kids. To not do so makes you a bad parent.” Coauthor Ted Cunningham, pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, remembers a time when he thought children would fill a void in his life. “I quickly learned that they take over space, schedule, money, and energy! I couldn’t believe it, but they were actually creating voids, not filling them. Our marriage was the first void felt.” Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., is proud to present Great Parents, Lousy Lovers (ISBN 978-1-4143-35889; 5 ½ x 8 ¼; 250 pages; $17.99; hardcover; Religion/Christian Life/Love & Marriage; September 2010), a book that shows how it’s possible to be a great parent and a great lover, from relationship experts Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham, authors of From Anger to Intimacy. From changing diapers to playing chauffeur, it’s easy to spend so much time and energy on your kids that at the end of a long, exhausting day, you have nothing left for your spouse. Too often in today’s busy culture, being a great parent comes at the expense of having a great marriage. You might be Great Parents, Lousy Lovers if . . .  one or more of your children sleep in your bed more than you do;  your idea of a date night is watching the kids frolic on the playground at Chick-fil-A;  you have adult children living at home, and they refuse to give up their Star Wars sheets;  you have sex less than four times a month, and they are all quickies. This book will help you and your spouse to begin reinvesting in your marriage—not just your children— because the best foundation for great parenting is a happy, healthy marriage. Relationship experts Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham are available for national interviews to promote the September 2010 release of Great Parents, Lousy Lovers. Contact Vicky Lynch at [email protected] or at (630) 362-8829 for more information or to schedule an interview. ####

About the Authors Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the author or coauthor of 16 best-selling, award-winning books, including The DNA of Relationships, along with several popular films and videos. Gary has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling. He has personally interviewed hundreds of singles and couples and has surveyed thousands of people at his seminars, asking two questions: what is it that strengthens your relationships, and what is it that weakens them? Gary's books have combined sales of more than 5 million copies. Many of them have even been translated into various languages. The Blessing and The Two Sides of Love won the Gold Medallion Award for excellence in literature. The Language of Love won the Angel Award for excellence in media as the best contribution to family life. All of his other titles have been top-five finalists for the Gold Medallion Award. In the last 30 years, Gary has spoken to more than 2 million people in live conferences. He has been presenting his live two-day workshop, “Love Is a Decision,” once a month for the last 20 years. Television audiences all over the world have viewed his award-winning infomercial, “Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships.” Several versions of the infomercial—first with Dick Clark, then with John Tesh and Connie Sellecca, and also with Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford—have been aired. The 18-videotape series has sold more than 4 million units. Gary Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, Extra, The Today Show, and Sally Jessy Raphael, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary has been featured on hundreds of regional and local television and radio programs across the United States. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children—Kari, Greg, and Michael—and six grandchildren. Ted Cunningham, a pastor and speaker, has coauthored three books with Dr. Gary Smalley: The Language of Sex; From Anger to Intimacy; and As Long as We Both Shall Live. After graduating from Liberty University and Dallas Theological Seminary, he founded and continues to pastor Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, Missouri. He has been a regular guest on Focus on the Family, LIFE Today, and Moody Radio. Ted and his wife, Amy, have been married for 14 years; they both love taking road trips and spending time at Table Rock Lake with their two children, Corynn and Carson. Relationship experts Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham are available for national interviews to promote the September 2010 release of Great Parents, Lousy Lovers. Contact Vicky Lynch at [email protected] or at (630) 362-8829 for more information or to schedule an interview. ####

Program Ideas         

Signs you MIGHT be a Great Parent, Lousy Lover Get a Great Parent, Lousy Lover makeover! 5 ideas for a date that works with your schedule AND budget Spiritual Savings: Investing in your kids’ spiritual lives You Two—Ignite! Learn to reconnect and divorce-proof your marriage Surviving the terrible twos (and threes and fours) The “leave and cleave” significance and why it is so important to your marriage 6 reasons to hold on to your dreams—and share them with your spouse! 8 steps to take to make tonight full of romance

Relationship experts Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham are available for national interviews to promote the September 2010 release of Great Parents, Lousy Lovers. Contact Vicky Lynch at [email protected] or at (630) 362-8829 for more information or to schedule an interview.

Discussion Questions 1. Great Parent, Lousy Lovers addresses a growing problem in America today—our tendency as parents to neglect our marriage in favor of our children. Why is this behavior a serious offense? 2. How does the current generation approach parenting differently than their parents or grandparents? 3. Is it okay to love your children more than your spouse? 4. You talk about “leaving and cleaving” in the book. What is this and why is it important? 5. How can parents find time to continue on their own personal spiritual journeys while dealing with the constant demands of parenting? 6. Is it okay for parents to have dreams for themselves as well as their children? 7. What are the most important behaviors for parents to model for their children? 8. Many couples find it hard to set aside time once they have children. Do you have any advice for these couples on how to keep the romance alive? 9. How can couples save a marriage that has already started to fall apart? 10. What do you hope couples will take away from Great Parents, Lousy Lovers? 11. Did you realize anything about your own marriages while writing the book?

Relationship experts Dr. Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham are available for national interviews to promote the September 2010 release of Great Parents, Lousy Lovers. Contact Vicky Lynch at [email protected] or at (630) 362-8829 for more information or to schedule an interview.