Family Articles

Q: My partner and I recently separated. What's the best way to use this time? A: Instead of going directly to divorce, some couples decide to separate for a while. This approach definitely has its merits. It prevents you from acting hastily about the relationship and gives you a chance to manage loneliness, time, and decisions.

When our four year-old son asked if he could have a candy bar at the grocery store, I said no, and he said, okay, and the woman behind me said, “Wow, I’ve never seen that before.” She couldn’t recall seeing a child take no for an answer without whining. Usually children ...

Well, you got through your divorce, settled in to your new life as best you can, and now you are in your first important, post-divorce intimate relationship. You're excited and relieved — yet also wary. You wonder if this new relationship is a go? Your doubts are not unfounded. After all, 67% of second marriages fail and 73% of third marriages fail as well. But, as I mentioned in my first article in this series, these statistics are for lots of women in general and in all different kinds of circumstances that might not apply to you.

Gardening seems to be on the verge of becoming a lost skill with today's children. Not that many years ago, the backyard garden that provided fresh fruits and vegetables for family meals was a common site. Food preservation, or canning of homegrown vegetables and jellies and preserves made from fruits, was also popular. Teaching the skill of gardening to your children imparts to them the ability to grow their own food. It is one of the many ways to demonstrate to your childre

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away and the planning is already started at our home. For over 15 years, we have hosted Thanksgiving weekend for all the family. The guest list runs for 15 to 30 depending on who can travel in any given year. It is my most favorite holiday to celebrate. I have it down to a science and can pull it off without stress or anxiety.

Most of us want to feel chosen, connected and cared for. Unfortunately, it's easy to be fooled into thinking you are falling in love, and one of the sure ways to cloud your judgment about your new partner is having sex too soon. Here are the top reasons how a hasty decision to have sex endangers your relationship health.

Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated in India wherein every wife keeps a fast from sunrise to moonrise for her husband's long life. However, this ritual of Karva Chauth has evolved and nowadays even husbands fasts for their wive's longevity. In fact, unmarried women have also started celebrating this festival with full devotion. So, if your girlfriend also keeps the Karva Chauth fast for you then, she must be really expecting a Karva Chauth gift from you. Therefore, if

In the furnishing of the living room and dining room, one can often overlook certain pieces of accent furniture that can not only look good, but can also serve a very practical purpose. Let's look at two such items of furniture - corner cabinets and hutches. Sometimes it may be necessary to use these pieces of furniture in a room of large proportions so that it doesn’t look bare and under done in terms of decoration; they can complement the basic furniture you have in the r

To many dads discipline means yelling, threatening or spanking when the behavior of the child is unacceptable. They may be confusing discipline, which means loving guidance and teaching, with punishment. Punishment is punitive and harsh. Their own fathers worked long hours and the mother did most of the parenting, sometimes with a threat of "just wait till your father comes home." Consequently males may have grown up without a strong caring father or in many cases, no father present at all. So they are not sure how to parent or how to get cooperation without punishing or yelling.

Here are some fun and free games for kids, which is just what you need on a dull rainy day or on a lazy afternoon with your young one. Set a enthusiastic play area and nnget started with your young ones . Be it a simple board game or some good food cooking session or simply some good rainy day games with the teddy bears or dolls. nnIndoor games for kids can be a great way to encourage creativity in kidsnnHere are few fun games that are sure to transform your dull lazy afterno

Onam is a harvest festival which is celebrated in south India, especially in Kerala with a great grandeur and gaiety. This is one of the most important festival celebrated by all communities across the state of Kerala. The Onam carnival lasts almost for 10 days. It is a tribute to King Mahabali who was known as very powerful and benevolent. Because of his good deeds, god gifted him with a privilege of visiting his region to see the welfare of his people every year. The festiv

First dates are both exhilarating and a bit frightening. And sometimes it's hard to know the difference between these two feelings. No wonder — these emotions arouse virtually the same areas in the brain. Even more confusing, when you feel anxious, you often don't think clearly. California educator Judy Willis discovered that stress prompts the brain's amygdala, which regulates emotions, to function in overdrive.

When you gets positive result that you are pregnant, the news bring excitement and happiness in home .You should consult a doctor at first after the positive detection, regular doctor checkups is primarily important during pregnancy, Many things a would be mother should keep in mind during entire nine months. It is believed that body of a woman would show some major physical changes during pregnancy. What are the major blood tests during pregnancy which need to be done? The c

Viewers log in 50,000 commercials per yearnnCommercials are another significant problem with TV watching. Viewer’s pocketbooks are the primary victim. The average person who logs in 4½ hours of TV per day also tunes in to more than 50,000 commercials per year. Even if adults can resist the manipulative marketing tactics, children do not have the ability to discern fact from fiction from cheap advertising.nnMarketers target children and teach them to nagnnWorse, during each

Are you aware that seal rings predate medieval times? A long time before coats of arms were in either personal or familial use, seal rings were being made and used across vast areas of Europe and also the Mediterranean.rnSince times of ancient Rome seal rings have already been used not merely to show family members or personal emblem,and also to seal with wax important personal or official documents. Family Seal Rings in the middle Ages A resurgence with the demand for seal r

Developing or renovating a home and wondering what style of beddings to buy in your children's rooms? For the young son who loves playing commando and imagining himself in combat, camo bedding is a ideal option. Beddings aided by the camouflage motif will help let your young lad drift away from into dreamland with his army animals tucked in a very toy chest someplace close to. An additional alternative may be a chic comforter with zebra prints that reverses to some chocolate

Celebrate Mardi Gras! This history rich festival makes for the perfect mid-winter party! The dead of winter is upon us all here in the Northern states and it’s time to gather friends and family just in time to get everyone over the winter doldrums. Mardi Gras provides a fun and festive reason for a celebration! Mardi Gras season runs from the end of Christmas to the beginning of Lent on the Christian calendar. It always begins with the Feast of the Epiphany, the twelfth day after Christmas and ends on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday.

Here are some thoughts that might surprise you. There is not necessarily a type of person who cheats. Even nice people can be cheaters—and this concept can cloud your ability to see the signs that your partner is a cheater.

Fourth of July is just around the corner, so light up the onset of summer with a great gathering. Start your plans now so that you can insure your guests will be available as that is always a busy holiday. You can print or buy invitations or save your money for fun party favors and games and make calls or send emails. If you are thinking this will be annual event, as ours is, name your party. We used “Fourth of July Free-For-All” as a joke many years back and it has stuck. Our family tradition is to host a pot luck barbeque. We supply the burgers, dogs and drinks.

Americans hear tragic stories every day involving guns! However, we must discuss community change if we are going to stop violent behavior! Government, police, schools and nonprofit groups work to reduce violence with educational programs on child abuse, bullying, drug abuse, domestic violence and gangs. Political leaders write new gun control laws to stop gun violence. However, citizens need a multifaceted approach to break the cycle of violence. We need to address, America's spiritual crisis and strengthening families.

I read with great interest the article "Despair is up — so why isn't crime?" (Dec.

When Children Don’t Stand a Chance Narcissistic mothers do not have children for the right reasons. They are not nurturers. They have no mate al instincts or genuine love to give. To the narcissistic mother, children represent a captive narcissistic supply. Because a young child’s very survival is in her hands she expects to be the number one object of his or her complete adoration. She dismisses the fact that children have needs, anticipating that the constant flow of narci

Parenting A Defiant Teen Parenting a teen that is out of control can be a very challenging task. Many parents actually give up even trying to help their teen. The parent's frustration can come from several factors, including the overall defiance of the teen and the limitations set by the government. Some teens refuse to do anything their parents ask of them. The teen feels enabled to do this as they know that in reality there is really not much a parent can do to them. Many c

A teacher once asked me, “What are you doing with your children?” She pushed her reading glasses to the end of her nose, pointed her finger directly at me and said, “I must speak to you in private.” I didn’t know what to expect. She shook her head and added, “What ever IT is, just keep doing ...

Christmas is coming and you have made a long list of friends and family who you want to buy presents for. But that's as far as you have got. Alongside the list of recipient names you have no suggested gift ideas. Do you have a lot of males on the list? Could be dad, brother, hubby, granddad, boyfriend, cousin, boss, son, friend or uncle. If you could give each of them boys Christmas presents that would make them say 'Wow', would you think you had done a great job shopping? If

If your bills and expenses equals more than your income, you are headed for trouble and must take steps immediately to get back on track. There must be enough coming in your household to cover what is going out in expenses. If there is a big difference between the two, then you may be headed for trouble.

“You are my special Angel, sent from up above…” my Dad, Steve Hale, sings as my little four-year-old cheeks turn flush with embarrassment and I run for the nearest table to climb under and hide. Friends and family join in the fun by singing along and playfully winking at me in my not so secret hiding place. My heart races, I want to bolt, but yes, I do feel “special.” How could I not? I feel “special” every time, and the number is not small, my Dad breaks out one of the many

"Sex with students is bad, but why should it be the case that for women it's a case of 'poor boundaries' and for men it's hardcore brutal predation of the most evil sort?"nnJay, a reader, recently wrote me a letter about an article in Oprah magazine on the number of female teachers caught having sex with their students, such as Debra Lafave (pictured). The article is "Why Did the Teacher Have Sex With Her Student?"nnJay writes:nnMy wife and I both had problems with the articl

Printing and producing your own photo books was once something which only professionals were able to do. The equipment and materials required put it far out of the range of even the most gifted amateur photographer, but this is a situation which has been revolutionized by the onset of digital photography.

Many people have questions about their family tree and if they share a biological relationship with someone. Today, it is easier to find out than ever! More and more DNA testing is available at affordable prices so you can get the answers you're looking for. The question is.... who do you do the DNA test with? That depends upon what family member(s) can and will test with you. There are several options, a few of which may not be the first to come to mind. Many people have que

Christmas is one time of the year above all others when you want to let the people closest to you know just how much they mean to you. Choosing and giving gifts which resonate on a personal level is the clearest means of doing this, and creating items such as canvas photo prints using specially chosen images form your own collection can allow you to do just this.

When a family member has a chronically disorganized home, it can put a strain on everyone's relationships. Here are some suggestions on how you can approach the situation in a supportive manner 1) Do a reality check first. Before you take any action, make sure that your concern is also shared by the person you care about. Although you may cringe every time you enter their house, they may not be bothered in the least by having those hundreds of books lining their hallway floor

Q: I've already broken my New Year's resolution. How can I successfully better myself? A: Unfortunately, it's true that by February many of us are on a downward slide of breaking our New Year's resolutions. You've probably given it a good try, but old habits are hard to break. Since you most likely resolved to do-or not do-something important, your frustration soon increases. Now you have to face not only the return of bad behavior but also disappointment in yourself. But don't give up. There are other steps you can take to start the New Year in a smart direction.

Will I let fear keep me away from discussing sexual self control with my teen? Such a short word, sex really is a complex topic to discuss. It has frightened parents, schools, government and relationships. The fear, it can really make or break you when action is needed. So, how to manage fear in front of such delicate issue? Sex is a substantial issue that needs to be properly discussed among relationships and children. Let’s try top deviate first from the topic. Think of s

The Japanese call them “parasite singles”, the Americans “boomerang kids”. Sociologists refer to the “accordion family”: it expands and then contracts and then expands again as children return to what should have been an “empty nest.” Why do youngsters opt to live with their parents rather than strike it out on their own? The jobs markets are anemic: youth unemployment hovers above 20% throughout the industrial world, 50% in some countries of the EU; Higher education is ext

Question: Leslie Beth, how would you describe your product or project? Answer: Are you a woman who is often smart about work but not love? Do you flip back and forth between men who are too mild or mean? Do you know how to take off your Man Blinders so you can read men—and never be fooled again?

If properly positioned, mirrors could transform how your room looks in an instant. For instance, you could create the illusion that your room is more spacious than it really is by positioning two mirrors opposite of each other. A contemporary or traditional look could also be achieved with mirrors. What look you would want your bathroom to have would depend on what appeals to you the most. nnMirrors may have varying formations and may come in different formats. This wide vari

Has dating etiquette about money really changed from the days when men paid for everything? Yes and No. In the not too long ago past—talk to your parents and grandparents—men paid for almost everything on a date. Oh, once in a while the woman would treat him to something that was not expensive, but the cultural etiquette was that men were expected to pay.

A Deeper Look at Self-Esteem.

Feng Shui is the traditional Chinese method of arranging objects such as furniture to help people achieve their goals and to be successful. The word Feng means wind and Shui translates to water. As Feng Shui is applicable to other rooms of the house, so it is applicable to the dining room and dining room furniture as well. Using Feng Shui principles in the dining room is thought to stimulate conversation as well as the appetite. What is central to the Feng Shui principles is

One day, “out of the blue,” when I was trying to find ways to help my clients, the idea of writing a list of Ten LoveCommandments came to mind. My clients and research participants ask me many questions, and one of the most common one is: “How do I keep that spark alive with my partner?”

A Deeper Look at Relationship Talk. Just as there’s no crying in baseball, there’s no arguing in committed relationships. Yes, there’s disagreement because we’re all different. Yes, there’s discussion if our views are different. But, within the discussion there’s respect. Then, there’s negotiation and compromise. Ed and Lisa came into my office and as they sat down, we started talking. Their son, Don, 20, is looking at universities in Califo ia and Pennsylvania; he wants an environmental degree.

Using a photo calendar to keep track of the many appointments and important dates which are part of a busy life is the natural choice to make. The extremely low tech nature of such a calendar makes it simple to use and more or less fool proof in operation. If you want to have something which looks good as well as being practical, however, then why not think about the options offered by personalized calendars?

You’ve read the dating articles. You feel armed with enough of the “right” questions to ask so you’ll never get fooled again. You know to ask about their values, recent breakup, favorite music and movies, where they live, what they do for a living and whether they like animals and their family. Phew! You tell yourself that you are on solid footing.

When it comes to selecting gifts which perfectly combine a strong personal input with a dedication to technical excellence, there are few things which hit the mark better than bespoke canvas photo prints.

Bad boys have edginess. They're risk-takers, a trait that's present in successful, charismatic men of power, status, wealth and savvy. So, what's wrong with being attracted to them? The answer is "almost nothing," as long as you don't allow the exhilaration of being with a man of fame, fortune or excitement make you overlook his disrespect of you. Look at the expression on the face of the women with the pink striped top. She's the only one not smiling amongst her privileged friends. Something's wrong.

Mothers are the most precious person in our lives. They do a lot to keep us happy and healthy. They can handle the difficult situation very calmly and that too without letting us know. No matter how old you get, you will always be mammas little naughty kids. It is not a good feeling if you are far away from your mother and can’t spend time with her on this Mother’s Day. But fret not, even if you can’t be there with her, you can always send a token of love to her conveyi

I was an 8-year-old television channel flipper. Remotes hadn't been invented yet, it was the 60's. My Dad is an avid sports fan and on the weekends he enjoyed watching games from his favorite chair on our only tv. The channel knob was just out of reach of his chair, so he gave me the job of flipper. I would sit next to the tv waiting for Dad to give me the signal to flip the knob to the next game he was watching. It made my Daddy happy and I was content to sit there all day f

My Experience in Family Divorce Mediation My name is Matthew Brickman and at the time of this article I have conducted nearly 300 mediations over the past several years. As a professional family mediator I specialize in conflict surrounding family issues and 99% of the time the mediation session involves dissolving a

Don't let the idea of head lice paralyze you. Although they're very prevalent, and most kids will get them at some point in their lives, lice aren't caused by being dirty. Head lice are very easily spread among the population. Although they don't jump or fly, any direct contact can result in yet another person being infected.nnThat contact may be a hat or scarf from an infected person. It may even be a simple hug hello where your head touches another. The point to remember is