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

Neither Shaming Not Enabling Helps the Obese Person

You've heard those PSAs "if you love someone, DO this or that for them?" Help them, get help for them. Okay, sometimes we can assist. And other times, the most loving this is not to help. Encourage them to do it themselves or just butt out and be a friend. Like losing weight. Several adult friends are overweight. Their parents and/or spouses are trying to force weight loss.  Shaming, Enabling Obesity Does Not Help--I Know

Relationship Glue Recipe: Take Care of Yourself, Demand Consideration

 We teach preschoolers to play nice. But many adults need refresher courses, too. Getting what we want and need without hurting others--lots of people need to learn how to do that.

Let's discuss healthy self-care. What it isn't--Blanche duBois Syndrome--always relying on the kindness of strangers. That's a one-way ticket to misery. Not everyone is kind. It's selfish and manipulative to expect others to do for us what we should do for ourselves.  Relationship Glue Recipe: Demand Consideration

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

What to do if Your Partner is Cheating: Physical and Emotional Health Issues

What to Do If Your Spouse is Cheating on You
Cheating and infidelity in relationships are unpleasant subjects. Infidelity is terminal cancer to a relationship. What should you do if you find out that your spouse is cheating? What steps can you take to care for yourself? Should you get a divorce?
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Protective Parent or Partner Power Struggles? What's Best for Kids

Protective Parent or Partner Power Struggles
Family dynamics are complicated to say the least. Parents have relationships with each other as lovers, as partners and as caregivers for their children. It's vital that parents keep personal power struggles out of their parenting decisions.
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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.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptoms and Recovery

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD has been called at various times in history '˜shell shock' and '˜combat fatigue'. PTSD can include troubled dreams, memories, irrational fear, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
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Stinkin Thinkin, Toxic Behavior and Detachment in Relationships

Stinking Thinking and Toxic Behavior: Mental Detachment
In a relationship with stinking thinking and toxic behavior? If someone you love has stinking thinking with toxic behavior you need to detach. Your job is to keep yourself safe. Emotional and mental detachment is one method.
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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.
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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'.
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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.
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Battered Woman Syndrome: Abusive Relationships

Battered Woman Syndrome: What Do You Do when Your Adult Child Becomes a Victim of Physical Abuse?
This story is my nemesis. The words are wrung from my heart, one drop at a time, like blood oozing from an open wound. This is the story of our discovery that our daughter was in an abusive relationship and being beaten.
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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.
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Sexual Dysfunction Between Couples: What to Do

Sexual Dysfunction Between Couples
I'm fast getting a reputation as the new Dr. Ruth, but I am very concerned about the psychological well-being of individuals and couples who suffer from sexual and erectile dysfunction and that horrible word "frigidity."
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