Entries Categorized as 'Families/Children'

Great moms make great kids . . . and make those kids handle their own “small, affordable mistakes”

Date May 8, 2013

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 Mother’s Day holiday, I hope to encourage all of the wonderful mothers who let things fall apart [...]

The divorce roller coaster: Tips for handling your emotions and staying sane

Date April 22, 2013

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 a Battle to Be Won
3. Acknowledge Change
4. Keep an Open Mind

Teaching children the value of doing something

Date March 25, 2013

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 or negative ones?
****
Like the saying goes, you want to leave your kids enough money so they can [...]

Anyone Youer than You?

Date March 2, 2013

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 alive who is Youer than You.”

Remote communication: documenting in the hopes of better parental relations

Date November 26, 2012

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 good chance of teary phone calls, angry exchanges during drop-off, and all-out fights about who’s not saving [...]

I’m OK, you’re not?: Acceptance versus control

Date October 15, 2012

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 trying to change them into something that we want them to be.
Research shows that the more you [...]

A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. (Irish Saying)

Date October 11, 2012

CNN celebrates International Day of the Girl with some thought provoking comments by “leading women.”

Beyond Kids’ Rules: Resources for divorcing parents

Date October 2, 2012

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 families and being good stepparents.

Strengthen the Relationship with Your Kids

Date September 7, 2012

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 creative: Invest in the relationship by doing what is in their best interest.  Get involved with their homework, extracurricular [...]

Self-Esteem: Top 4 things you can do for your children

Date August 26, 2012

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 suggests (excerpt):
Be Generous With Praise
Criticize When Necessary, but Constructively
Solicit Your Youngster’s Opinions
Encourage Youngsters To [...]

Divorce parenting: rock solid love

Date August 6, 2012

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.
Dr. Charles Fay writes (excerpt):
When limits and accountability are provided within the context of love, kids [...]

How to improve your relationship: Love starts with empathy

Date July 19, 2012

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 than the words]
Push the pause button on your own emotions [instead of responding defensively, take a deep [...]

Everyone disagrees, Some save their marriages

Date June 1, 2012

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 failure in relationships? The science of marriage–and learning how to save [...]

Are parents more happy and satisfied or less?

Date May 7, 2012

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 after a child is born to levels preceding the children, but we find strong evidence that [...]

Meaning, purpose, happiness and generosity: The health of marriage and family life in America

Date February 1, 2012

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 married parents are more likely than their childless peers to feel their lives have a [...]

Flirting with an apology

Date January 11, 2012

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 your mistake, saying you’re sorry and a commitment to never do what hurt that person again. . [...]

The search for the right therapist

Date October 19, 2011

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 do you know what you do works?
Melinda Beck writes (excerpt):
One issue for prospective patients is [...]

Predicting good psychological outcomes: How to make it through your divorce

Date October 4, 2011

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 common humanity, and the ability to let painful emotions pass — “can promote resilience and positive outcomes [...]

First things first: What to do when you learn your spouse is having an affair

Date May 22, 2011

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 Solomon] gave this advice:
1) Don’t rush to make any big decisions, especially irreversible ones.
2) Don’t tell [...]

The perfect gift for our children

Date December 2, 2010

Love and Logic News challenges us with measuring the energy we exert in trying to find the perfect gift for our children compared to the energy we exert showing our children what a gift they are to us.
Dr. Charles Fay writes (excerpt):
During this Christmas season, my hope is that you’ll…
* spend more time playing with [...]