A sticky situation. (And a tacky title.)

At dinner one evening my sister noticed a small white glob adhered to her eight-year-old son’s cheek. She couldn’t understand how he got toothpaste on his face at dinner time.

“Wash that toothpaste off your face,” she told him.

“It’s not toothpaste,” he insisted.

“Then what the heck is it?” she asked.

“It’s my gum. I’ve saving it for later.”

Is that classic kid, or what? So gross. My sister promised he could have a fresh piece after dinner if he threw that one away. It wasn’t easy to peel off his skin, however. Fortunately, it had been a small square piece of gum, not your standard long stick.

I suppose it could have been worse. He could have attempted to keep chewing it while eating his dinner. “Mmm… Green bean flavor!”

And now, as a bonus for reading this far, a tip from 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage, co-authored by Yours Truly:

Tip #19: Picture yourself living to a ripe old age. For men, divorce is about as dangerous as picking up a pack-a-day cigarette habit. Being unmarried shortens a woman’s life span by more years than having cancer or living in poverty.

The bottom line here is clear: Your marriage matters–not just to your children and friends who need your good example, but also to yourself. If you’re not trying to make it work for others’ sake, can you at least do it for yourself? If your marriage is on the rocks, seek help and don’t give up.

Do you have any friends or family members whose marriage could use a boost? Show them you care. Order them a copy of this book.