When my mother-in-law was alive, she was an incredible cook and a phenomenal hostess. If you were at her house enjoying dinner, you would want for nothing. She enjoyed serving people. But sometimes she could get so caught up in the preparations and making sure everything was just right that she had trouble enjoying the…
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“Connecting practices? You mean like playing with the toys?” No, that would be K’nex (Don’t worry – I didn’t know it was spelled that way either). I am talking about normal practices that you have with your spouse, your kids, or even your grandkids. For example – do you and your spouse kiss each other…
DetailsRelationships Tip Tuesdays March 9, 2021 Do You Have a Windshield Wiper Marriage? – Part 2 Last time we began to examine whether or not we might be in a “Windshield Wiper Marriage.” This was defined as a marriage that gets the job (of raising kids) done but without necessarily interacting as spouses. Just as…
DetailsNow this may sound like a strange question. But think about it – what do windshield wipers do? You may be thinking, “Isn’t it obvious? They get the rain off of the windshield.” While that is certainly correct, I want you to visualize how they operate. “Hmm, well they are synchronized and operate together to…
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While I have been in the counseling field for over 25 years, I don’t believe that I have ever seen so many of my clients experiencing feelings of anxiety and isolation. Prior to the COVID pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 20% of Americans felt isolated and lonely. The report…
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As most couples approach marriage, they usually have dreams of partnering with their future mate in ways that allow them to be companions and teammates. They hope to be on the same page. However, as time goes by, and they discover glaring differences, they often are prone to petty criticisms. For example, I recently had…
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While most of us think about the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s) as days to look forward to, just as many often cringe when they think about what is in store for them. You see, not all family get-to-gathers always go well. You may even dread them. I have one client, who is an…
DetailsWe all get into routines. Sometimes they are good ones – like brushing your teeth. Other times, not so good, such as yelling when you are frustrated. As a result, there are certainly those routines that we want to hang on to while others we need to jettison as quickly as possible. For example, a…
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I sat with a couple yesterday when the wife asked this very question. Her husband had secretly shredded their finances, spending all of their money and running up debt. She never had a clue – until the overdraft notices began to arrive by phone and mail, from the bank. She was livid. She had been…
DetailsI want to write this morning about a relationship issue that deviates a little from what I normally talk about. This is not about relating to your spouse or significant other but about relating to your children. And more specifically, relating to and helping your children after you have gone through a divorce. So, for…
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