While the internet has expanded the possibilities for meeting a “love interest”, it is fraught with problems. The primary problem is that so many people portray less than an honest portrait of themselves. While admittedly, I have met many of…
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November 1, 2015 Skin and Body
Is being short a disability? On the surface it appears this way. Reaching high shelves requires a stool, pants need hemming, and driving requires sitting on a cushion to see over the steering wheel. Growth hormones are an answer. Multiple…
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Top 10 Tips for Caring for The Elderly 1. Take care of yourself. As a social worker, I have heard countless tales of burnout from caregivers. Set aside a time for you to be with you. 2. Know the available…
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Speaking to aging parents about their future, is really a conversation about mortality, and that is not an easy conversation to undertake at any age. The top 7 things to consider when speaking to an elderly person about their future…
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Don’t dying people have enough goodbyes to undertake during the process of dying, then to add one more? Dying people should not be burdened with deciding how loved ones should mourn. Funerals are for the living. They are a process…
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One attempt. One completion. One life. While there may be some very good ” reasons” for ending one’s own life, I must take a stand and say “No” suicide is not ever justified. It has nothing to do with religion,…
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You can’t have a connection with family without forgiveness. It is inevitable, a part of the human experience that the longer we know somebody, the more likely we are to hurt them intentionally, or unintentionally. It takes a remarkable amount…
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In 1955, divorce uncommon, and television families portrayed in black and white, has changed significantly, between then, and today. Blended families were rare. Today, there is nothing rare or unusual about a blended family. The image of 1955, complete with…
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Dad was about to turn 70, and I saw an opportunity to create a meaningful event. This could be a rare opportunity to organize my siblings to create an event that built a family connection, that deepened bonds that stood…
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I thought I was well trained in grief. After all, I lost a husband at age 35 suddenly and unexpectedly. No reason, no explanation, and no time to say goodbye. I thought I was well versed in the subject of…
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The obvious way to get rid of gray hair is to dye it, but the fastest way to get rid of gray hair, may not be so obvious. There are multiple ways to remove gray, and each of them provides…
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If you have a relative in prison, you face a tough task. Not only do you have your own questions, as to why and how he or she ended up in prison in the first place, you must deal with…
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Stopping meddlers takes assertiveness, practice setting boundaries, and understanding the dynamics of family systems. Families operate along a continuum of behaviors ranging from over involvement, to under involvement. The fancy words for this are known as enmeshed families, or disengaged…
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All families begin with you. Before you were born, your family wasn’t your family, and so it must begin with you. When writing a family history, consider names, ages, occupations, hobbies, interests, and personalities of each family member. Contemplate patterns…
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December 14, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
In 1955, while families nestled together watching television shows like Leave it to Beaver, divorce was a relatively rare occurrence. Today one out of every two couples, joined together in holy matrimony, will end in divorce. Why is divorce so…
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Experience is certainly the best teacher, and while I cannot recall the feelings and emotions that occurred when my parents brought home triplets, when I was 2, and another baby when I was 3, I am confident that the birth…
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November 30, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
Combining closet space when you are accustomed to having your own closet space presents unique challenges. You hang all of the hangars exactly the same way. You hang clothes neat and orderly, all of the shirts assembled in the same…
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October 9, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
One book that every bride and groom, in the midst of honeymoon bliss, should take time to read is “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” , by John Gray. Reading this book while in the midst of newlywed…
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October 9, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
The secret to newlywed bliss is to lower your expectations. The person you married cannot meet all of your needs, and it is unrealistic to expect that he or she can meet them. As the harsh realities of life happen,…
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