Responding first to readers have asked for help: “I am a 22 year old single mother and I have a two year old son. I was not ready for my son when I became pregnant. I love my son a lot, but lately I have not been able to deal with all the whining that […]
Before I get to the subject of this column, I want to respond to several emails from readers that who actually asked for advice: “They Won’t Let Me Drive” writes that he’s a 22 year old and his parents, with whom he still lives, insist he take “their test” before they allow him to get […]
Few things make hearts grow bigger and emotions rise than looking down at the face of a newborn who depends on you. Parenting is a major life choice and it leads individuals into enriching and challenging moments…some that are both at the same time. But it’s important to realize what love is and what it’s […]
Few would argue that children change things, we just not always clear on what that means. Having kids isn’t an automatic action–they deserve better and so do you. There are lots of reasons given for having children, the most disturbing of which is one of the most frequently cited: If you don’t have kids who […]
Everyone’s got them–relatives who make you nuts and leave you wanting to shake some sense into them. S.D. writes “I have a mother who is VERY HARD to communicate with. My mother and older sister are so much alike. I’ve never had a close relationship with either of them. There are a lot of issues […]
Nostalgia has it’s place, but don’t forget to be somewhat realistic about the old days. Happiness is a general condition of feeling good about one’s life, good about one’s work and good about relationships–basically, feeling good about one’s self. It’s easy to get sucked into the belief that former days were golden times with little […]
We are a nation of individuals who are very defined by our choices. We’re fiercely protective of our rights and our freedoms. We argue these in the legislature and in the press. We demand freedom of choice…but we have a hard time allowing the same to our children. Parents are tremendously important in children’s lives. […]
You may not like to argue, but doing so is the only way to work through conflict in the relationship. Don’t think you can just ignore issues and they’ll go away. But arguing doesn’t have to mean yelling, screaming and hurling your cell phones at one another. There’s productive arguing and unproductive arguing. Whether you […]
As a result of our cultural desire to be “productive” all the time, we’re creating a nation of people whose minds take temporary, mandatory vacations. You may believe–and have been told this by parents, bosses and the media–that you need to make the most of your time. What’s not addressed in this is the brain […]
Adopting a “psychologically disabled” lifestyle is becoming a career choice for some and a lifestyle for others. With the societal acceptance of emotional challenges has come a sad embracing of incapacity. Good therapists want to help you get functional and happy. It’s important to accept that we all have issues. Life is full of challenges […]