After 29 years on this earth (leave me alone, I can be 29 if I want to be ;-)) You would think I could create New Year Resolutions that last beyond the first 15 days of January. For most of us, creating lasting resolutions continues to be a challenge. As years pass, I tend to feel more pressure to accomplish the goals I have in life. After all, according to...
The research is clear, one of the top five things that couples fight about is finances. Unfortunately, the holidays can highlight and add to financial stress for many. The National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend roughly $721 billion dollars on gifts, travel and food during the holidays. That is roughly $1,007 per person. Even as a family of 2 or 3, the spending can add up quickly. Discussing...
Do you find yourself stressed out, anxious or depressed during the holidays? Well, you’re not alone! For many, the “joyful holidays” lack much joy altogether. It’s easy to be swept up in the stresses of dealing with the in-laws, holiday traveling, or spending way too much on gifts. Unfortunately, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of possible stressors that many will face during this time of hustle and bustle....
Most relationships start off fresh and exciting. It doesn’t take much to have fun and enjoy one another. Over time however, the newness wears off and the busyness of life can settle in. It is easy for complacency to move in and no one even notice. If you have noticed your relationship feeling a little dull, here are three ways to add fun to your relationship. Create a Specific Bucket...
Parenting isn’t an easy task but parenting a strong willed child can be very challenging. It may seem to be a battle getting your children to do what you have asked, no matter how simple the request. Strong willed children are independent and stubborn, they want to do what they want and when they want to. The good news is that there is hope. The book “Parenting the Strong-Willed Child” gives...
Parenting is hard work. It is easy to get caught up in all the negativity that surrounds raising a child; are you doing it all right? Their behavior, their nutrition, milestones, learning, growth charts, etc are all things that get scrutinized by others and yourself. However, have you ever found yourself wondering what constitutes being a positive parent? Being a positive parent is all about shifting perspective and focus on...
You floated through the dating phase, glided to the altar, maybe even welcomed one or two new additions to the family. But somewhere in the natural flow of life together, you’ve found that the careers you envisioned so clearly in the early relationship stages look very different today. His job requires travel and long days; hers demands the night hours. Relationship quality begins to waver in the light of strenuous...
When couples present to therapy with a challenge they are working through, one question I often ask is “what have you already tried to work on this?” Often, they list the tools and strategies they’ve tried that have been unsuccessful. Their ideas and attempts are good and are many of the same interventions I would have explored with them. Despite good tools and a desire for change, the growth is...
Love isn’t in the air? When a relationship isn’t working as expected thinking about breaking up or deciding to stay is pretty common. According to research, breaking up is considered a major stressor. Ending a relationship is usually painful at least for one of the parties involved and the fear of making the wrong decision can be very confusing. People change and evolve as do relationships. Sometimes people in a...
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