Family

The dysfunctional traditional family was brought to the forefront of public discussion decades ago, and families-whether blended or traditional-can have growing pains over the years that effect every member of the family. Deciding to merge two families to create a…
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Meddling Parents. I think I have a story that takes the cake. When I announced at 26 that I was getting married the trouble started. Yes before we even walked down the aisle. My parents had always been controlling but…
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There are vulnerabilities that coexist with trust and they are dependency and reliance. When one trusts he becomes dependent on others to keep his secrets and all else he holds dear. To that end trust must be earned. When children do…
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Unfortunately, the term “elderly” has a very negative connotation in society today. The term “elderly” is too often thought of as the 80-year old grumpy, grey-haired neighbor who’s always yelling at you for not parking the car correctly or perhaps,…
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While in college I became pregnant with my first child. Scared and alone, it drove me to go back to live with my parents. At the time I saw this as my only option to take care of her instead…
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My mother earned her lines, veins, spots, and wrinkles by years of worrying. In my youthful grace, I didn’t understand these medals she wore. My mother’s family was shaped by the Great Depression, an era when no part of the…
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Ah! Celebrations and holidays are events families look forward to. But what happens when that family is a blended family? How do you decide which holidays and celebrations are celebrated with the blended family and which are with the “other”…
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Unfortunately there are too many of us that have grown up with a deadbeat parent or two. I myself had a dad that would rather spend his time and money on drugs. My parents were not together for the first…
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Creating trust in a blended family takes time and perseverance. Either as a parent or child, it can be hard entering into a new family situation after experiencing a bad divorce. It may feel as though it is impossible to…
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Some mothers and daughters seem to be on the same wave length, enjoying a close and loving relationship. Other daughters wish to have a close connection with their mother, but that element of congeniality seems to be missing. Those individuals might…
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A prize-winning daughter-in-law loves her husband and makes her love apparent to his mother. There is nothing that will please a mother as much as knowing that her son’s wife cares about his happiness just as his mother has from the day he was…
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Technology has come a long way to helping military parents stay connected with the kids during deployment. What used to be six months or a year of no contact other than the occasional letter or phone call has changed dramatically. Internet,…
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This is quite an easy debate for me to join, since I know first hand what its like when a parent vents to a child about the other parent. Children learn as they grow, how to respect their parents. Sometimes…
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For most brides, it is not the thought of the man you are marrying that may give you cold feet, but the family that you are marrying; in particular, your soon-to-be mother-in-law. Since the dawn of time, it seems that…
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When a parent gets deployed, one of the hardest things they have to face is leaving their children.  This is not only on the parent, but the children also deal with certain emotions through this process.  There are some ways…
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Deployment takes soldiers far away from their homes and families. Even if their place of deployment is nearby, they may as well be one million miles away for the amount of contact they get with their loved ones. This is…
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Forgiveness is a big word. It comes complete with hurdles to overcome in order to do what the word means. Not everyone is able to forgive. If the person you need to forgive is your mother, you might find that…
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In the past, there were two main ways for children to keep connected with their parent who is deployed overseas.  The most common way would be through simple pen and paper letters.  Use of simple pen and paper letters were…
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Are relationships toxic because of differences or are relationships different because they are toxic? Perhaps it’s a combination of the two, however when multiplied by the fact that it’s a parent, there comes a time when a decision must be…
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No, it is not acceptable for a parent to vent to their children about the other parent.  Children should never be put in a position where they may feel the need to defend or side with one of their parents. …
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No matter how old we get, there will always be times when parents are a little hard to handle, or indeed the other way around. Yet it is essential to remember that often the reason you drift apart, is for…
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More often than not, children are not able to develop and maintain a healthy, solid relationship with their mothers. That is especially true for daughters, who often find themselves unable to get past feelings of antagonism and frustration for their mothers….
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If you yearn for a closer relationship with your father, but it seems like every time the two of you are together there is a lack of connection, chances are that your father might also be feeling the subtle estrangement….
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Getting along with ones parents is now seen as an impossible feat, yet with simple ingenuity, good will, a dash of salt and pertinence, patience and tact, every teenager would avoid the trifling conversations, save his and his parent’s time…
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Feelings of inadequacy come to mind when I think of my mother.  Never knowing the reason behind the words, “I wish you had never been born”, or “If you weren’t here, my life would be different”.  One can only guess it…
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To enter into this debate unarmed would not be wise, therefore, as a parent, it is this writers aim to point out the reality of the topic.Many would suggest or even claim that the discipline is present to avoid venting…
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I see few, if any, cases in which it is acceptable for a parent to vent to their child about something the other parent has done. First of all, parental unity is a must to have a secure family. Although…
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The role of ‘Father’, in the family, is such a extremely important role. This is especially true if he has a daughter. Many fathers believe that they are fulfilling their duties by providing for their family, taking care of the…
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It is never a good idea to vent to your kids about their other parent, even if they are adults. It is an especially bad mistake if they are still young. Your children love both of you. They will feel…
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Parents usually raise their children in the best way they know how, instilling values and encouraging them to be the best that they can be. However, when children grow up and see things differently, parents may have a hard time…
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