The State Bar of Michigan’s Blog highlighted The Atlantic WordPlay post “Papa Don’t Text: The Perils of Distracted Parenting.” The author discovered parents pushing strollers and interacting with their phones instead of their children. Deborah Fallows writes (excerpt): These studies…
Great moms make great kids . . . and make those kids handle their own “small, affordable mistakes”
Love & Logic reminds us that parenting is sometimes counter-intuitive and offers comfort to “the best moms,” mothers who refrain from the urge to be a helicopter parent. Dr. Charles Fay writes in the Insider’s Club newsletter (excerpt): On this…
The divorce roller coaster: Tips for handling your emotions and staying sane
FoxNews.com highlights ways that parents can remain emotionally stable during separation and divorce and make things liveable for their children. Tina Paone and Thomas Petrelli listed these 4 tips (excerpt): 1. Don’t Play the Blame Game 2. Custody Is Not…
Teaching children the value of doing something
CNN Opinion reveals Mick Jagger’s parenting philosophy on not spoiling your children. Ruben Navarrette Jr. writes (excerpt): But those are the wrong questions. We need ask ourselves only one question: Will buying my child this item teach him positive values…
Anyone Youer than You?
Today, Theodor Geisel’s birthday, is a good day to grab a Dr. Seuss book and read it with someone you love. It was Dr. Seuss who said, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one…
Remote communication: documenting in the hopes of better parental relations
The New York Times plugs into the use of technology to avoid, mitigate or address communication problems between separated and divorced parents. Pamela Paul writes (excerpt): Let’s just say that no matter how well ex-spouses and still-parents coordinate, there’s a…
I’m OK, you’re not?: Acceptance versus control
Hour of Power reminds us of the influence that flows from changing our own minds and perspectives, rather than trying to control another human being. Bobby Schuller writes (excerpt): [I]n our marriages, many times we’re destroying our own teammate by…
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. (Irish Saying)
CNN celebrates International Day of the Girl with some thought provoking comments by “leading women.”
Beyond Kids’ Rules: Resources for divorcing parents
HBO has posted resources in connection with its DON’T DIVORCE ME! KIDS’ RULES FOR PARENTS ON DIVORCE documentary. The resources highlight 7 organizations offering support to children, parents and families transitioning through separation and divorce, and some extend into blended…
Strengthen the Relationship with Your Kids
With the fall school year approaching, The Huffington Post and Deborah Moskovitch outline tips for adjusting families to improve parent-child relationships. 1. Re-frame your thinking: Rather than clocking minutes, place emphasis on the quality of time you are spending together. 2. Be…
Self-Esteem: Top 4 things you can do for your children
Healthy Children offers us tips for helping your children blossom. They cite Caring for Your Teenager: The Complete and Authoritative Guide The Complete and Authoritative Guide from the American Academy of Pediatrics (Editor: Donald E. Greydanus, MD, FAAP). Healthy Children…
Divorce parenting: rock solid love
Love and Logic recently sent out an email newsletter asking: Parenting Through Divorce: Are You a Rock … or Are You a Leaf? Being a rock means setting expectations in your children of limits, accountability and love at your home.…
How to improve your relationship: Love starts with empathy
Real Age and Sharecare explains how reading your partner’s emotions and feeling your partner’s efforts to understand your own emotions relate to happiness in the relationship. Julie Hanks writes (excerpt): Listen for emotional messages [the emotional message may be different…
Everyone disagrees, Some save their marriages
A 2004 episode of This American Lifeexamined the theme of marriage, with a spotlight on marital researcher John Gottman. It turns out that everyone argues, and everyone argues about the same issues. Every couple. So which factors predict success and…
Are parents more happy and satisfied or less?
USA Today updates us on the research addressing parental happiness. The new studies points toward parents today being happier than married couples without children. Sharon Jayson writes of the two studies (excerpt): “We find no evidence that parental well-being decreases…
Meaning, purpose, happiness and generosity: The health of marriage and family life in America
The States of Our Unions report, by the National Marriage Project, delves into the health of marriage in America. The Executive Summary includes remarks on being a parent and navigating the marital relationship (excerpt): In this report, we find that…
Flirting with an apology
USA Today’s Ask Stacy reminds us of the three elements of a true apology: “sorry,” responsibility for the choice taken, and promise for the future. Stacy Kaiser writes (excerpt): A true apology should consist of three elements: taking responsibility for…
The search for the right therapist
The Wall Street Journal explains the challenges in finding the right patient therapist fit and how those challenges can be overcome by asking three questions: How would you propose treating me? How long do you think it would take? How…
Predicting good psychological outcomes: How to make it through your divorce
USA Today and Health Day reveal the secret to getting through a divorce and coming out okay: self-compassion. Robert Preidt writes (excerpt): They [the University of Arizona researchers] explained that self-compassion — a combination of kindness toward oneself, recognition of…
First things first: What to do when you learn your spouse is having an affair
CNN provides a number of insights into infidelity (of course in the wake of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver), and what comes next. There also are 3 tips for when you discover an affair. Amy Wilson writes (excerpt): [Dr. Steve…