Life After "I Do" by Rachel Egan Search Amazon for other books by or about Rachel Egan. Rating: Reviewed by: John L. Hoh, Jr.

This book is subtitled, "Awakening from my dreams….Learning to love the reality of marriage and family." Basically, as anyone married has found out, the after-wedding life is anything but "happily ever after."

Rachel Egan isn't credentialed as a counselor or marriage therapist. She doesn't hold fancy degrees or hold prominent places of power. She merely worked at her marriage for 18 plus years. And that in itself says something.

Ms. Egan relates mistakes she's made, boundaries she's had to establish, forgiveness she's had to seek or give, and a whole host of other matters that make a marriage work. She can be blunt: "Here's the deal: I like you even when you're an asshole." She speaks of re-defining what she thought a marriage should be. Husband won't come home from work on time for supper? Well, feed the kids and let him fend for himself when he gets home. In the process, she discovered breakfast became a great bonding time for her family. It was twisting the "traditional" concept of marriage.

Ms. Egan also gives practical advice of what has worked for her, such as the "mini-maid," where the kids are each assigned a week out of the month to do family-oriented chores. Egan found this to be a powerful bonding experience as well as reduce stress in the family.

Quotes on marriage begin each chapter. Each chapter also ends with a page for notes. Certainly a book for marriage enrichment seminars.