“Hey, Mom,” my son said walking into the kitchen, “You’ll never believe what Grandma said.” Launching into a conversation he recently had with his Grandma, I listened on pleased but inwardly sighing. My son relayed how he had come to some profound conclusion, with his grandparent’s help, of course. And now he knew what he needed to do. Hmmm…I think I just had this same conversation with him…oh, I, don’t know…500 times before. Funny though, until one of his grandparents said it, it didn’t make any sense to him. Grandparents have super powers like that. Teens greatly benefit from relationships with their grandparents and that bond truly matters. Here are 5 reasons to foster teen and grandparent relationships. [Read more…]
3 Ways Humor and Laughter Bring Joy into the Home
Growing up my older brother was always the funny one. But really he isn’t. I am. OK, so maybe he is actually pretty funny, but I still feel that I was not fully appreciated. Perhaps its due to the fact that I can tend to be serious at times. But I have discovered that finding the fun in everyday life is pivotal . Humor is a vital element in creating an emotionally vibrant home. So here are 3 ways humor and laughter bring joy into the home! [Read more…]
3 Needs of the Introvert Teen
A while back, I was working with a mom who was attending one of the groups I teach. One issue in her life was that she tended to dislike schedules and often struggled to follow through in a timely manner. As I got to know her I could see that she was definitely a free spirit. We discussed how being more relaxed with a schedule is fine as long as you move a few things up the priority list that “have” to be done. But there was another concern. She described one of her daughters as “really good” but always “anxious.” The more I listened, I realized that the daughter was probably an introvert. And as an introvert, her needs were very different from her extrovert spontaneous mom. So what are 3 needs of the introvert teen? [Read more…]
Surviving a Blended Family Wedding
Last fall, our oldest married. When two people commit their lives together, it is truly a reverent occasion. And it’s always so special to see a bride transformed on her wedding day into the most beautiful woman in the room! But weddings can also be full of tension, stress and unfilled expectations. Add in a blended family and the wedding can become a ticking time bomb. Here are some surprise lessons we learned, and how my husband and I went about surviving a blended family wedding. [Read more…]
5 Secrets to Deepening Your Family Bond on Vacation
Our mini van was struggling. It was so weighed down, I wasn’t sure we were even going to make it up the drive much less 4,000 miles. Country Boy started throwing out all the extra water I had crammed into every crevice as I hollered at him that we needed all the extra water. Tensions were high as we were attempting to pack for 5 people for a 3 week camping trip out West. But you know what? Our 3 week camping trip ended up being our best vacation ever! It really brought us closer as a family. So today I’m sharing 5 secrets to deepening your family bond on vacation! [Read more…]
Create a Summer Contract for Teens
Summer is almost here! That means school is out and a break from the typical routine. Which can be great. It can also spell varied expectations, household tension, and extra work for parents. So get ahead of the game and create a summer contract for teens. [Read more…]
Surviving the Emotional Toll of Family Court
Going to court is extremely stressful. Enduring court when there is children involved is nothing short of traumatizing! In this post, I desire to give comfort and practical tips to those that are involved in family court. Both from personal and my professional court advocacy experience, I know court dealings can be confusing, drawn out, and stressful. While I hope that you personally never experience a court hearing, unfortunately, for many families it is a reality. Here is some practical advice for surviving the emotional toll of family court. [Read more…]
5 Ways to Develop a Household Cleaning Style that Deepens Relationships
We had the same argument for about a year straight. Country Boy loved having people over for dinner…spontaneously. I like a plan. And of course I needed time to clean my whole house! After the umpteenth time of us disagreeing about having company over at the last-minute, I decided that this was NOT working. So I made a decision that for one year I would say yes every time my husband asked to have people over. In that year I learned a lot about myself, hospitality and my cleaning style! How we think about our home, cleaning and our clutter can increase or kill relationships. Here are some of my lessons learned with 5 ways to develop a household cleaning style that deepens relationships. [Read more…]
What Every Teen Craves from Their Parents
When I teach groups, I am always shocked when I hear a similar phrase over and over from the teenagers. In my current groups, we have both parents and teens. But every time we separate and gather into a smaller teen only group and start discussing life at home, a common theme arises. You know what every teen craves from their parents? Time! That is the number one need teens will say they wish they had more of with their parents.
