Step parenting can be challenging, but there are ways to blend families with children from prior relationships so that the process is easier. Very important: the new couple should talk about their expectations of both family life and their individual roles within the new family. Most people never take the time to do this before […]
Read More »When you are in the midst of an argument, it can be really hard to take a step back and listen without interruption. But, statistics tell us that misunderstandings often result from interruptions before a person has had a chance to fully communicate what they are trying to tell you. We think at about 1,000-3,000 […]
Read More »Don’t you hate it when you are on a date and are feeling nervous? One of the stress management techniques that can help is if you take a quick minute to close your eyes and do some positive visualization. “See” the date going well and envision you and your date laughing and enjoying yourselves. This […]
Read More »Are you blending step families? This can be a source of conflict from a surprising corner – the prior in-laws! Maybe they are close to your ex-spouse and still feel some loyalty to him or her or perhaps they aren’t giving your new love a chance to prove themselves. Either way, exercise patience. It take […]
Read More »In personal relationships, as well as in life, most people listen to others with an intent to respond, not with a focus on really listening to what the other person has to say. This is often the area where relationships fail – because people aren’t “hearing” what the other person is telling them! One way […]
Read More »On a date and feeling stress? Remember, first of all, that it’s “just” a date! Focus on having fun and getting to know the person you are with, but keep in mind that dating is a process and a chance to learn and grow when connecting to another person. That’s the great thing about dating […]
Read More »You’ve found the love of your life and are getting married – great! But, if one or both of you have children from a prior marriage or relationship, it can be challenging to combine families. Since statistics show that second marriages have a higher chance of ending in divorce, it is best if you sit […]
Read More »It isn’t easy to blend a new couple’s children from a prior marriage or relationship into a cohesive family unit, especially if you go into the “blending” with a goal of trying to duplicate the family you had before. Instead, respect the differences in your new family members and honor your step-children’s individual stages of […]
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