It happened when my daughter was still in the church nursery. She was barely talking, and she was already mentioning her two “friends” by name. I was caught off guard by my daughter’s strong desire to find friends. But what started off as cute antics has grown. Those girls are still all friends 11 years later. And fortunately, no one still bites each other any more! Deep friendships are something most of us long to find. Friends can make life so much more fun and the hard times more bearable. Other times our friendships can be a source of great personal anguish. So how to know when to keep or fire that friend is a survival skill we should all attain. It will help us to draw and treasure the right friends and walk away from people who will drain us.
A Bride’s Guide to Marrying a Country Boy
Before I met my man I knew nothing about hunting. OK, I knew a few things. You know the Bugs Bunny episodes when Elmer Fudd “hunts” the rabbit? That was the extent of my knowledge. Hunters talk to themselves and wear black and red jackets! So I had a few things to learn. Since you, my lovely readers, have been digging deep the past few weeks, examining your priorities and looking for ways to strengthen your families, I thought we should have some fun on this post! So I’m sharing all my wisdom and experience here to create a bride’s guide to marrying a country boy! Feel free to share…just don’t judge me!! 🙂 [Read more…]
10 Healthy Habits to Strengthen Your Family Bond
When my kids were younger I felt like I had more time to devote to each little step forward. As they grew life seemed to go faster and faster! It felt harder to keep an eye on the big picture of what I wanted for my children when I was just focusing on what had to be done for that day! As a blended family, Country Boy and I knew we were going to have to make strengthening our family bond a priority. Otherwise we were in real danger of acting separately from one another and not as a cohesive group. And at the end of the day, what matters most to us is not the to do list, but the relationships within our family and the character of our children. Here are 10 healthy habits to strengthen your family bond that we found benefited our family. [Read more…]
Are you an Extrovert or Introvert?
Are you an extrovert or introvert? Personality is a funny thing. Whether you are raising children or puppies, you will see glimpses of personalities very early. When it comes to developing a vibrant life, a key is to understand your own personality. As we appreciate our differences, we are more likely to take our emotional and mental needs seriously, leading to even better health!
Most people have heard the terms extrovert and introvert, but often there are misconceptions surrounding them. Understanding if you are an extrovert or introvert is of pivotal importance. So let’s clear up some of those myths. [Read more…]
Are You Trapped in Crisis Mode?
The woman sitting across from me was living in crisis mode. Fifteen years ago, I was just starting out as a court and family advocate. Part of the job I loved was talking with the clients that came into our agency. After hearing the woman in my office speak for close to half an hour, I was greatly concerned. She was in a very vulnerable position. Her current relationship was abusive. And to make matters worse she seemed trapped in crisis mode. [Read more…]
Are You Ready to Date Again?
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I almost burned our house down that day. It all started when I was cleaning out my work desk downstairs. Little did I realize the mess that was about to unfold. Sometimes our dating lives can be like that, messy and nearly disastrous. So before you decide are you ready to date again, ask yourself the four questions below. [Read more…]
7 Characteristics of a Safe Person
When you talk about the basics of healthy relationships, you will quickly run into the term “safe person”. In order to have a healthy relationship, you don’t need perfect people, but you do need safe people. A safe person is one who will see you as another human being of equal value in terms of having thoughts, opinions and feelings that are important. Recognizing a safe person will allow us to be attracted to the right people and quickly distant ourselves, or at least our emotions, from those who are not. And as mom to teens it is so important that we teach our teenagers to recognize a safe person versus an unsafe person! Here are 7 characteristics of a safe person that will increase your relationships smarts! [Read more…]
5 Tips on How to Build Your Support Team
In 2015, my husband and I bought a house on a beautiful piece of property. Actually, we bought a wreck on a beautiful piece of property!! What we thought was going to be a remodel on an older house turned out to be a complete gut on a house that had to be at least 150 years old. It wasn’t a pretty process, but we love the finished product. Our home!
Earlier this week, I shared some thoughts on the importance of having a group of friends and family in your life that truly support YOU. (Read here)
Today, I would like to give you 5 tips on building your support team.
Why You Need a Support Team
For years I have taught a class where we complete a support team exercise. Everyone writes down the people in their support system. When I say support team, I want you to think of people who give into your life, whether it be thru encouragement, sharing some great advice, making you feel safe or just sharing fun times. This is your support team!
It always saddens me when I see people struggle with this exercise or simply have no one to put down. This shouldn’t be. Everyone needs someone in their corner. So today, I want to talk about why it is so important to have a support team. Later in the week, I will share some ideas on how to build or strengthen your support system. [Read more…]
