Deciding whether you can trust someone completely depends entirely on how you define the word ‘trust’, and how open you are with the idea of potentially leaving yourself vulnerable to another person. Trust, as in Confidencetransitive verb1 a: to commit…
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I have heard so many views on what makes the perfect match. Some say having a lot in common is the key, others hold to the saying ‘opposites attract’, and still others say that there is no such thing as…
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September 9, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
The title ‘why men should listen to their wives’ leaves absolutely no room for anything but an intuitive, smart, well-rounded and discerning woman as the subject matter… correct? Wrong! Chances are, most people will immediately go in one of three…
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I would not only state with confidence that I know everything about my spouse, I would extend that statement to say that I am the only human alive that knows everything about him, save himself. I am married to and…
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June 30, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
While the theory of cause and effect has been proved in many aspects of life, there is another big factor that affects all relationships. Gravity, for instance, is often a source of cause and effect. If I drop a water…
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Proper communication is absolutely essential in overcoming obstacles. Note the qualifier, ‘proper’. There are plenty of ways to communicate which are improper, and only one or two which actually accomplish true progress. One example that is particularly frustrating is complete…
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Why is it important to say “I love you”? There are many reasons that we could discuss all of them valid. We could mention what happens to children that never hear those words, relate what kind adults they may become,…
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Children are a blessing. Some couples seem nearly overwhelmed with those blessings; other times they are very hard to come by. For a select group of us, there is but one blessed little arrow in our quiver. (To quote the…
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Combining child care and elder care, what a novel idea! Viewed positively, images of grandmums and dads snuggling youngsters and reading books or coloring seems like a great idea. Viewed with the panicky heart of a mother already trusting the…
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April 7, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
The first definition of marriage by Merriam-Webster is “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law”. Further that definition by recognizing ‘united’ to…
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March 17, 2015 Friends and Peers
“I am just not sure that I can be the friend you need right now.” These words were typed across my instant messaging screen after a lengthy conversation about my then-recent diagnosis of depression and the reality of what I…
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“Look at her. Look at how they make her dress, isn’t it such a shame? They are so overprotective; she is not allowed to do anything. Can you imagine?” It ranks among the most humiliating moments of my life. I…
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January 12, 2015 Communication
Wow, it happened! No matter what your relationship previously, for some reason your mother-in-law has handed you an ultimatum. Perhaps it is small; maybe it is something so serious that you will soon be on legal battle ground. Is it…
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Chivalry is not dead. It is harder to find, and sometimes being flat-out rejected, but it has not disappeared altogether. There are men out there who would still be a complete gentleman every chance they get. These men have been…
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November 25, 2014 Friends and Peers
Friendship, by definition is the co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more people. Further, it connotes a relationship of mutual knowledge, esteem, affection and respect. (Wikipedia) Applicably, friendship involves a mutual attraction of thoughts or tastes, as well as…
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September 29, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
Today there is such a push to keep your marriage young and exciting. If you believe everything you see on television, read in the paper, online or in magazines, you will walk away convinced that your relationship is flawed if…
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September 24, 2014 Crisis Support
Being estranged from your relative does not necessarily imply that there is love lost between the two parties, or sides (in cases where the family has lined up multiple members), but it always implies a great loss of communication. It…
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What mother can give her child to any other woman and not have some sense of loss, jealousy, disdain or judgment? This is, after all, what being an in-law really is, isn’t it; a process by which we lose our…
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My in-laws are wonderful people; easy to get to know, and easier to love. We were first introduced about two weeks after my husband and I met, two weeks before he proposed! The twenty-seven days from meeting to engagement were…
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As young adults we leave our parents to make our own way in the world. Life takes us in unique directions, hard or easy, and time moves on. We are resonsible for ourselves, and for whoever else we have chosen…
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You may absolutely date, and marry, your ex-brother-in-law in the following circumstance: the world has come to an end and you both are the only male and female living, and must reproduce the human species. That one instance aside, here…
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November 11, 2013 Communication
If the television contains any true indication of what men think about women, there are several things I would want made clear on our behalf before wading into the dating pool. We are not all dramatic. There are plenty of…
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In a perfect world, all relatives would be a safe and positive influence on our children. The reality is, however, that the old adage “you cannot choose your relatives” is true, and each family has one or two members who…
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Fourteen years old, and I am walking through the local grocery store with my grandmother. I love this woman beyond distraction, and spending time with her is always such a treat. Suddenly, I hear the unmistakable sounds of flatulence. Startled…
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