by Nancy | Jan 13, 2019 | Commitment, Communication Skills, Conflict, Encouragement, Habit Change, Problem Solving
Recently a respected friend suggested I read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Ph.D. I ordered it. It came. When I thumbed through it and discovered many pages of small print, I set it aside. “Not now. Maybe later.” Yesterday I opened it to...
by Nancy | Oct 9, 2018 | Commitment, Communication Skills, Habit Change, Problem Solving, Respectful Behaviors
There are several categories of a committed relationship. The first one I think of is 1) a marriage. But there are others, like 2) a business partnership, and 3) the relationship of a parent and child. There are several categories of costs: 1) Staying in the...
by Nancy | Aug 20, 2018 | Commitment, Communication Skills, Conflict, Habit Change, Uncategorized
Yes, that’s me. I constantly battle my impulse to drive too fast. I’m supposed to enjoy the journey…but I just want to get there! I think it started after my young husband unexpectedly died. I was twenty-three years old with two baby boys. I just wanted to...
by Nancy | Aug 14, 2018 | Commitment, Communication Skills, Conflict, Habit Change, Problem Solving, Stepfamilies, stepfamily strategies, Uncategorized
This is one of the most inspiring step-couple stories I know of. Although it’s long, the drama of their experience will grip you and not let you go until you get to the end… Gavin and Pamela first met in the 5th grade in 1980 and quickly became best...
by Nancy | Feb 27, 2018 | Commitment, Conflict, Habit Change, Problem Solving, Respectful Behaviors, Uncategorized
When my marriage to my late husband Jim was in jeopardy, at some level I knew that my sarcastic put-downs and yelling were not helping resolve our conflict. But it wasn’t until a great coach began to teach us some basic communication and anger management skills that...
by Nancy | Feb 20, 2018 | Commitment, Conflict, Problem Solving, Stepfamilies, stepfamily strategies
I’d like to ask Frank Sinatra, who’s crooning voice made this lyric popular, “Then why is the divorce rate much higher for second and subsequent marriages?” Our culture is still trapped in the unrealistic assumption that stepfamilies are no different than a first...
