“When do you plan on leaving?” The question may border on rudeness, but there comes a time when it needs to be asked. Entertaining guests, family or friend, is usually a welcome break in the daily routines of life. Besides…
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Forgiving your spouse after a hurt or a betrayal is not only good for them but for yourself as well. Marriage is about compromise, support and love. It is two people committed to making a life together and perhaps raising…
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Consistency and patience, when applied, will go a long way towards helping your stepchild to feel love and secure. Situations vary from child to child and household to household with no two being exactly the same. Love (particularly with older…
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Change is inevitable. Welcome or unwelcome, it’s presence in our lives is unavoidable. To children about to have their life merged into a blended family it can be a scary time filled with anxieties and fear of the unknown. Even…
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First dates usually have a whirlwind of emotions swirling about them. It can be difficult not to mentally jump ahead and picture yourself with this prospective partner. In most cases this is a first encounter that holds the possibility of…
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November 25, 2013 Crisis Support
Grief is a person’s reaction to a loss. Associated with grief are a set of emotions, behaviors and difficult sensations. Behaviors may vary from person to person as everyone deals with a death of a loved one in their own…
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November 13, 2013 Communication
Most hosts want their house guests to feel welcome and comfortable during their visit. There are some visitors, however, who tend to strain their benefactor’s patience and budget. Everyone is different with a unique set of circumstances. But there are…
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October 29, 2013 Friends and Peers
When a friend is hurting and obviously going through a bad time, the natural impulse is to cheer them up and lighten the mood. In some cases this works but in others, when depression is the culprit, longer reaching methods…
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October 25, 2013 Relationships and Family - Other
Life tends to get swallowed up in the demands of work, school and other activities. In years past people were busy but they functioned in a much smaller circle. In simpler times parents came home and engaged the family in…
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The addition of another child ( whether it be number two or six) will change the dynamics of the family unit. There are things to consider before making the decision to bring another human being into the world and it can…
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October 24, 2013 Relationships and Family - Other
It can be difficult to tell if a relative is experiencing loneliness as recent studies show that while it may overlap with depression (a medical condition), it is not the same thing. A person’s perception of their situation and life…
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The home is a place where all members should feel accepted, loved and supported. The structure of the family itself doesn’t matter only that the individuals involved spend time together on a consistent basis. Everyone involved benefits from spending…
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When people live together rivalries and disagreements tend to be fairly common. Sometimes family members struggle to deal with one another often due to personality clashes or other circumstances within the family unit. While it may be impossible to totally eliminate contention…
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How a home is run from its overall condition to the household rules will have an impact on the family residing there. While everything does not have to look like the cover of a magazine or the residents have impeccable…
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When a father is incarcerated his children, if old enough, understand that he is absent and have questions as to why he is no longer living with them. It is a difficult, sensitive subject and understandably many caregivers dodge the…
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People react differently under the influence of alcohol. Some are silly, others anger filled while others flirt with everyone in the room. Regardless of one’s particular actions you are dealing with a person who is under the influence. Once someone…
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Sometimes it’s hard to accept that marrying someone means marrying their family at least to an extent. The relationships people have in their lives is partly responsible for how they define themselves. Being a good son or daughter may play…
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You and your intended are about to combine your families and move in together. Exciting, scary, and intimidating are only of the few words you could use to describe the experience on which you’re about to embark. The desire is…
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October 13, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
Children grow up regardless if they have one parent or two. A strong positive father figure in the family is, without a doubt, invaluable. However the absence of a male parent is not an insurmountable obstacle when it comes to…
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October 8, 2013 Crisis Support
Individuals involved in bullying – both the victim and the tormentor – are harmed by the behavior. Recent studies have indicated that those who bully or are bullied in one situation are likely to repeat the pattern in another. Whether…
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Emotions swirl around one when they’re anticipating a first date. Thoughts are usually a mixture of positive and negative feelings running the gauntlet from insecurity to delight. It’s easy to allow nerves to get the better of you and can cause…
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October 1, 2013 Crisis Support
Grief is an emotional process and although difficult to go through it has a beginning and an ending. While things may never be the same they will be okay again. When a person grieves they are experiencing intense emotions. It can…
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The date has gone from bad to worse and all you want to do is put it out of its misery. Sometimes two people, despite the beginning attraction, simply lack chemistry. It can be uncomfortable when only one of you…
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September 24, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
Ending a marriage is a death of a way of life. It does open the door to new possibilities but it can send the participants into a whirlwind of emotions. Everyone is different with varying circumstances and there is no…
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September 18, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
The act of infidelity usually causes some degree of harm to everyone involved. The damage often extends beyond the immediately involved parties and injects emotional pain into the lives of children and other family members. Usually the straying spouse is…
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September 12, 2013 Friends and Peers
Almost everybody suffers with bouts of depression. Sometimes the world feels as though it’s spinning one way and you’re spinning another. Although your first instinct may be to curl up in a ball and watch television getting out with friends…
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September 10, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
Divorce is a death of sorts. It signals the end of one way of life and the birth of another, It’s usually a difficult time for adults let alone the affected youngsters. Parents want and need to protect their children…
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September 9, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
Divorce is a time of change and transition. While it may be best in the long run for all parties involved it can be emotionally gut wrenching during the adjusting period. When a friend is in pain your first response…
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September 8, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
There is little doubt, if you’ve been married for a period of time that you’ve been angry with your spouse on more than one occasion. It is a fact that even the happiest couples have arguments and, in fact, would…
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When two families are blended together into one household the children gain a new authority figure welcome or not. They also have no choice about the step siblings with whom they’ll be sharing their living space. It’s no wonder that…
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