Family

“There is no place like home.” Words we have all heard at one time or another in cinema, on a doormat, or a coffee mug. At times, there were no truer words ever spoken. However, sometimes it can seem as…
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Allowing a spouse to adopt your child is such a personal issue that, had I not been in this position, I would not dare write on it. But, as I stated, I have “been there, done that”. My story is…
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When taking on a blended family, I’m convinced teachers have a definite advantage. They are accustomed to dealing with groups of children on an equal basis, and it’s unlikely anything the little dears can think up will surprise or incapacitate…
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The goal of raising a child is for him or her to become a self sufficient adult.  Although parents may raise their children to believe and behave in a certain manner there is no guarantee that the lessons will hold…
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The concept of In-Laws has always been one that I find hard to wrap my head around. Growing up I found myself surrounded by my parent’s siblings and their children, and for the most part it was a good time….
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Are you having trouble with your Mother -in -law? Is “Everyone Loves Raymond” your favorite sitcom because you can relate to Raymond’s wife? A lot of stress and problems that occur with the Mother -in-law stem from coming from a…
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There have been many movies and stories based on the horrors that in-laws have inflicted upon the lives of the unsuspecting new daughter-in-law. We all instinctively know that when one of our friends starts off a story with, “Let me…
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Separate togetherness is the key to a happier vacation with in-laws.. You have in-laws because you have a spouse, and that spouse is on vacation with you, too. Although your spouse has spent his or her life with the in-laws…
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Time passes by quickly and we go through this life but once. It is beneficial for us to do our best to get along with our in-laws.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> I believe that sincerity, a positive…
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Congratulations! If you’re even considering taking a trip with your in-laws your relationship with them is probably one that many people would envy. It ‘s important to be sure that your trip doesn’t change things for the worse. Here are…
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This is a topic I could write a book about. When your parents don’t agree with your choice in a significant other, it is their problem and not yours. YOU know what you want in a mate and YOU know…
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Because, it is just not right to do. Especially in front of your children. You will be setting a bad example and showing the child, that it is OK to talk about adults behind their backs. First and foremost this…
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The idea of stepparents having parental rights is dependent upon the situation itself and the parties involved. Each divorce situation is unique and different. There is no one set of guidelines that can be followed to make the determination of…
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Step Parents and children: As a child my parents went through a divorce. I stayed with my father and he eventually remarried. At first every thing was fine, I was happy to have a new mother. But then when the…
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When I was single the one thing I knew for sure was that I would never date anyone that had children. That was the one “rule” that I had. Little did I know that I would meet “Mr. Right” and…
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With divorce rates today hovering somewhere around fifty-percent, it is likely that most of us have been in direct contact with someone who has been divorced or is going through a divorce. When a married couple with children decides to…
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The modern blended family, one in which children from previous relationships often must transition into a new lifestyle, is one that evolves through complex change. There are frequently many people variables to consider: Each of the new spouses, parents of…
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In my experience from growing up in a merged family, they very much can succeed. My mom remarried when I was 11 years old. My mom had 4 kids and my step-dad had 5, which made for a very large…
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5 Ways to Become a Mother-in-Law Whisperer I’m a huge fan of the show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan; it’s not unusual for me to sit and watch four episodes in a row. Recently, during one of my Dog Whisperer…
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Adult children taking in a parent Mothers will always be mothers, or are they? When you have raised children to the time that they become adults, you always have that motherly instinct. You will always want to be there when…
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Children look up to the parents and want to admire them. How can that be easy for a child if they are hearing all the bad things about the other parent? Say that Dad vents about Mom, it makes both…
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Sixteen years old, I made a promise to myself: to have my own apartment by twenty one. My plan fell a little short, having moved out one month after my twenty first birthday. Not bad. My older sister set her…
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Being a stay at home mom is one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood “jobs” for a woman to take on. Stay at home moms juggle activities, cleaning, washing laundry, shopping, more cleaning, homework, pet care, doctor appointments and somewhere…
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I didn’t think I was going to be able to write this article, but now, having prised my own laptop from my daughter who gives me a look that says ‘you can use your laptop when I’ve finished with it’…
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Yes, to the extent that she can without influencing unfairly any of the parties involved.  Maternal responsibilities to children should last a lifetime, not dissolved or lessened because of age or maturity.  The same can be said about the role…
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Are parents responsible for how their children act as adults? Definitely not, once a child has become grown, they are responsible for their own actions. At some point in time, a child is no longer a child, thus becoming an…
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It is never acceptable for children to be brought into their parents’ fights. Now, that isn’t to say that it will never happen. Parents are human, and no one is perfect. All humans make mistakes. And there will be times…
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As children we all have a basic need to be loved by our parents. This need is as urgent as the need to eat and stay warm, but not as visible. When we are unloved by the people who brought…
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Scientific debates on whether nature or nurture plays a greater part in influencing behavior has been going on for a very long time. It’s obvious, however, that both genetics and the environment will shape a person in profound ways. Together,…
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Parents have many responsibilities when it comes to their children. From birth, a parent has a responsibilitiy to provide for the wellbeing of a child, even if that means giving them up for adoption. Parents have a responsibility to provide…
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