Humour: The relationship cure-all

One of the most potent weapons in any relationship is one we frequently neglect: humour! There’s nothing like a laugh to break the tension in a heated moment. It's the antidote to so much volatility. Recently, my husband and I got into a (rather inconsequential) squabble about body checking in hockey, and it escalated to full-on sparring. Each of us stubbornly clung to our position, committed to winning and not, as we should have been, to each other’s dignity. Finally, instead of continuing to jab or even storming out, I looked him in the eye and quipped, “OK, big guy, you better watch out, or after the kids go to bed, I’m going to body check you!” We laughed so hard we almost cried. And the kids feigned disgust — which was half the fun!

So, you see, sometimes you just have to laugh. Here’s why, and more importantly, how…