“How come David gets a bigger piece of cake than I do. That’s not fair.” “It’s her turn. I had to unload the dish washer last time. That’s not fair.” We have all heard our children make these kind of statements because they think everything should be fair. We often just chalk up their complaining…
DetailsIf you are a fan of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, you have probably seen his sketch “Thank You Notes.” In this he often pays tribute to all kinds of unsung people, places and things. And no doubt, being mentioned on national TV is libel to be greatly appreciated. Think about when you have…
DetailsIn the 21st century we have become an entitled group of people. We see it in schools, in the work place, and even in our intimate relationships. We expect. We expect that you will be on time, we expect that you will pick-up my cleaning, we expect that you will fix dinner, mow the lawn,…
DetailsTexting and smart phones have brought the world to our fingertips in so many ways. While our parents didn’t have access to these tools growing up – “for better or worse,” we do. They are now a source of both communication and distraction. One research study discovered that nearly 20% of couples feel closer to…
Details“When happiness shows up always give it a comfortable seat.” – Charles Dickens Neuroscientists have repeatedly demonstrated that the more we reinforce thinking in our brains, the stronger those connections become. For example, re-experiencing a trauma can lead to irrational but paralyzing fears. It is interesting to notice how things like insults, discouragement, or bitterness…
DetailsIn our last Relationships Tip Tuesday I discussed the seemingly epidemic growth of loneliness among individuals – both single and married. As promised, I want to take today to suggest a four strategies that we can use to fight back against loneliness. Talk to strangers. You may be in line at the grocery store or…
DetailsI remember a story from a number of years ago, that a friend related regarding his parents. He said that when he was growing up, his “normal” was different from that of many of his school friends. He related that his parents kissed in the kitchen every morning, his dad brought his mom flowers once…
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I sat with a couple yesterday that are having enormous problems with connection. He feels that his wife is aloof and doesn’t want to connect with him, which couldn’t be less true. She is feeling that he has no idea what makes her tick nor does he have a desire to. They both say it…
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For many step-parents, the answer to this question would be a resounding “No!” I have heard comments such as, “I was such great friends with his kids before we got married. I don’t know what happened.” Or “My partner and I had discussed this issue prior to marriage and thought we had a handle on…
DetailsI recently read a story about a couple in Oregon who were traveling back home from an out of town trip. They were using their GPS as they navigated an unfamiliar route. Nearing a small town, their GPS instructed them to turn off onto a little used forest road. This was a result of their…
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