After Katie Holmes married Tom Cruise in 2006, the world watched with baited breath for signs of a brainwashed bride. Relax folks, the girl has a backbone.

Going against her husband's expressed Scientological wishes, Katie enrolled their 3-year-old daughter Suri last week in a Catholic pre-school.

Before converting to Scientology in 1990, Tom, like his wife, was nominally Catholic. And while he remains an ardent follower of that big clam in the sky, it seems like Katie has been having second thoughts. She hasn't been seen at the church for more than five months, and is purportedly in closer contact with her devoutly Catholic parents. According to an unnamed Daily Mail source:

'She is not convinced by Scientology and has told Tom that she wants Suri to be educated as a Catholic—as she was.

'They had been having huge problems agreeing on her school. To say they were having arguments is putting it mildly—but Tom came around to the idea in the end.' [Daily Mail]

Learning to negotiate differences is an important skill to master in a relationship, and it seems like TomKat has found the way. Recent paparazzi pictures show the couple looking happier than ever, romping around their newly-adopted Boston, currently home while Tom begins the filming for his new spy comedy thriller Wichita.

What's their secret? Keeping things flexible, and always remaining supportive despite the conflict.

He doesn't like how she dresses? It's OK, she's will bend to his "great taste."

"He usually likes everything, but sometimes I'll walk out and he'll say, 'I think that dress might be wearing you. You don't need that,'" she tells Elle magazine (via Daily News).

She knows Tom is only looking out for her. In return, the NYC-marathoner helps him out with his own aesthetic refinement. At 47, Tom isn't getting any younger. Rounder, yes. And according to a source from OK! magazine, Katie isn't having any of it: She now has him on a diet that includes lowering his carbohydrates, cutting out sweet snacks, and adding plenty of sex.

Katie read somewhere that you burn up 600 calories just by having sex three to four times a week,' the source reveals. 'So she's told Tom to think about how much they'd burn up if they put daily sex sessions on their schedule! [Source: OK! magazine]

As you can see, Katie knows how to pick her battles, and even instigate a few of her own!

Photo courtesy of Bauer-Griffin.