Quit When You Still Feel Ahead to Prevent Burnout

I did it again. Worked past personal stop time I'd set. I meant to get to the store in the window of time while it was nice. A teeny-weeny porthole window in Michigan.

Now I can't because my husband will be getting up soon and I don't want to miss him before he goes to work. There's no way I can make it back from the store in time. And I want to get it done before Snowmageddon hits, again, tomorrow. But no, I ignored my inner prompting and now I'm feeling anxious, burned out, but still like I didn't accomplish enough.

My friends, that still small voice is there for a reason. It's her that keeps us from overwork. When she says stop, listen, for your own good. Read on. Prevent Burnout, Quit While You Still Feel Ahead

Sibling rivalry: Parenting tips to help kids get along

I'm always saddened when I hear parents say that their kids don't like each other. I'm not bragging (well, not much), but our four kids all get along great and always have. I don't say that to be self-righteous. I don't know exactly why our family has so little sibling rivalry. We may just be lucky. If it had anything to do with our parenting, here's what we did. Sibling rivalry: Parenting tips to help kids get along

How to parent teens through relationship drama without going crazy

As a mom, I'm generally confident handling childhood hurdles--potty-training, picky eaters, night frights--bring 'em on. There's one issue that shakes my equanimity--teen relationship drama. Whether they're boyfriend-girlfriend connections or same-gender friendships, teenage relationships are often fraught with drama and drenched in anxiety. Frankly, I'd rather beard a lion in its den than deal with drama. Even the term sets my teeth on edge. Disagreeable as they are, relationship problems are part of life. After four kids (and a lot of trial and error), I've assembled some thoughts for parents on helping kids navigate peer relationships.  How to parent teens through relationship drama without going crazy - Yahoo! Shine

Fire Safety and Family Emergency Preparedness

Pa. Farmhouse Fire Sparks Emergency Preparedness Concerns
The recent fire that killed seven children in Pa. raises issues about home fire safety. The Japan Earthquake and tsunami raises further concern about family emergency preparedness. Is your family fire safe and emergency ready. Check out these communication tips and family resources.

Emotional Health, Relationship and Communication: Respond vs. React

Relationships and Communication: Responding Kindly is Healthier Than Reacting Angrily
We've all seen (or been in relationships) where one person gives most of the  positive while the other partner selfishly takes the positive but gives negative. However 'what goes around comes around' doesn't work. Here's why.
Read More

Understand Adolescent Brain Development: Selfishness, Fairness, Ethical Behavior

Understanding Adolescent Brain Development; Empathy, Selfishness and Self-Care
Parenting is a challenge. Parenting a teenager can seem like a monumental task. The adolescent brain has all adult capabilities. But the teen's sense of fairness and ethics has not completely formed yet, so many healthy teens seem ruthless and selfish.
Read More

What to Say to a Depressed Person

How to Comfort a Depressed Person
I'm a special education teacher certified in emotional impairment. I have a degree in psychology. I've read almost every book on depression self-help. I've also battled depression and it's my own experience with depression that has taught me the most.
Read More

Children and Teens: Cell Phone Texting Safety

Children, Teens and Parenting: Cell Phone Calling, Texting and Picture Message Safety
Cell phones are an interesting phenomenon. Never before have conversations been able to be conducted with such privacy. Privacy is a good but can be dangerous, too. Especially for teens and children who don't haven't learned to protect themselves.
Read More

Emotional Health Help: Toxic Anger vs. Healthy Communication

Emotional Health Help: Toxic Emotions vs. Healthy Anger
Anger is a healthy emotion when we don't try to squash the feeling. Trying remain permanently calm and never show anger often leads to toxic anger. This guide differentiates between healthy and toxic anger.
Read More

Emotional Health Help: When to Fight Back and Not 'Bite your Tongue'

Emotional Health Help: When Not to Bite Your Tongue and How to Fight Back Without Getting Toxic
I've always said, 'write when you are passionate about an issue, even and especially if the passion is anger.' Sometimes in anger, it's best to 'bite your tongue'; sometimes a good, non-toxic tongue-lashing is necessary.
Read More

Emotional Health and Communication: 'I Statements' vs. 'You Statements'

Communication, Dating and Relationship Issues: Beware of 'You Statements'- Use 'I Statements'
Nine years ago, my husband and I made a Marriage Encounter weekend. I realized two things: there are healthy ways to argue. And I don't know very many of them. Like the difference between 'you statements 'I statements'.
Read More

Tips for Coping with Negative, Critical People

Staying Emotionally Healthy Around Critical People: Bounce it Back and Don't Personalize
Each person reacts to the pressure of our fast-paced world a little differently. Some people going inside with it and other go out. Constant criticism is a toxic waste by-product of our frenetic lifestyles. Here are ways to stay emotionally healthy.
Read More

Parenting Health Help: The Danger of Second Guessing, Questioning or Undermining Each Other

Parenting Issues: The Danger of Undermining, Questioning or Second Guessing Your Spouse
Each parent approaches parenting with their own unique spin. Parents need to respect and affirm each other. There are very few issues that require one parent to question another parent about in front of the children.
Read More

Caring for Senior Citizens: Communicating with the Elderly

Caring for Senior Citizens: Communicating with the Elderly

One of the tools that senior citizens are most reluctant to use are hearing aids. They will accept eyeglasses, medications, dentures and sometimes even Depends before they will admit to needing one or more hearing aids. Here are skills to employ when communicating with an elderly person.

Read More

Caring for Senior Citizens: Choose Your Battles

Caring for Senior Citizens: Communicating with the Elderly

One of the tools that senior citizens are most reluctant to use are hearing aids. They will accept eyeglasses, medications, dentures and sometimes even Depends before they will admit to needing one or more hearing aids. Here are skills to employ when communicating with an elderly person.

Read More

Caring for Senior Citizens: Elderly, Children and Family Emotional Health

How to Care for Elderly Senior Citizens and Children Under One Roof
With costly senior care facilities and cuts in senior Social Security benefits, families are taking elderly relatives into their homes to care for them. If your family cares for a senior citizen, you need help and support.
Read More

Caring for Senior Citizens: Navigating Social Security

Helping a Senior Citizen Navigate the Social Security Administration Voice Activated Phone Line
We've been caring for my 84-year-old disabled mother-in-law in our home. I'm taking a crash course in elderly care so I'm turning these experiences into articles. Today we look at dealing with the Social Security Administration.
Read More