All relationships have ups and downs. During down periods, it's so easy to find flaws in your partner. “He always…” and “Why can’t she just…” frequently come up in our thoughts or conversations as an explanation for the struggles. However. if you want to have a healthy relationship, you need to look inward first. Here’s [...]
It’s as predictable as the ball dropping over Time Square: make a resolution to address the current problem area in our lives. Lose weight. Stop smoking. Shop less. We all view the new year as an opportunity to reinvent the less desirable aspects of ourselves. Unfortunately, for most people, making a resolution is the easy [...]
Co-parenting is challenging throughout the year, but the expectations of the holidays make these times even more challenging. The holidays are marketed as a time for family connection and happiness, but for so many families it can be filled with stress and difficult emotions. Here are some tips to help you navigate the holiday season [...]
I saw a story on the Today Show about a mom that had “cancelled” Christmas in response to the entitled attitude she saw from her kids. While that approach may be a bit severe, most parents I know struggle to balance their desire to give their kids a good experience with their desire to avoid [...]
During the first year after your divorce, every holiday and event will require some flexibility as you navigate sharing parenting time and creating new traditions. Thanksgiving is bound to have some challenges for both you and your kids; however, there are some things you can do to help everyone get through, and maybe even enjoy, [...]
The term “parallel co-parenting” comes from the child-development phase called “parallel play”. Picture your toddler sitting next to another toddler, both playing with blocks but having no interaction. There is no interaction until the other toddler tries to take his blocks. Parallel co-parenting developed as a way for parents—particularly those in high-conflict divorces—to focus their [...]
Divorce includes so much more than just the two people going through it. It involves kids, extended family, and friends. When in-laws are close and connected to the former spouse, it can be painful to lose those relationships. While the relationship is bound to change, there are a few things you can do to be [...]
Schedules for divorced families get more complicated during the school year. While this is true of all families, divorced families have an added layer of complexity. For these families, here are some tips for managing that complexity to minimize stress and to help get your kids off to a great start.1. Review the School CalendarParents [...]
While the stereotypical in-law relationship is adversarial, the reality is that many married people enjoy warm and loving relationships with their in-laws. In instances where a person’s relationship with their family of origin is strained, in-laws can even become a surrogate family, creating missing parental and/or sibling bonds. What happens when the marriage that created [...]
Last week, I read Jennifer Aniston’s article on the Huffington Post voicing her anger at the media’s obsession with body image and its darker side, body shaming. Her passionate comments highlighted how pervasive this issue is in our society. She focused on the role that the media plays in perpetuating the myth of the perfect [...]
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