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...
by Nancy | Feb 6, 2018 | Commitment, Conflict, Habit Change, Uncategorized
Valentine’s Day is coming. Our attention is drawn to loving relationships, especially romantic ones. Everyone I’ve ever asked wants a happy, loving, intimate relationship with the love of his or her life. That dream seems to be loaded into our DNA, tattooed on our...
by Nancy | Jan 26, 2018 | Commitment, Conflict, Habit Change
Sometimes the most painful, agonizing experiences of our lives happen to us. Not that we asked for them, or even caused them, but a new, unwanted life is dropped on us like a ton of bricks. That happened to me when my first husband died unexpectedly. I was...
by Nancy | Jan 9, 2018 | Commitment, Conflict, Habit Change, Problem Solving, Uncategorized
Rather than seeing conflict as part of growing the relationship, we tend to blame the person with whom we’re in conflict. “If he wouldn’t _____, then I wouldn’t ______. If she would just _____, then we’d be happy.” Blame, not conflict, is relationship cancer. ...
by Nancy | Jan 2, 2018 | Commitment, Conflict, Habit Change
I have a friend who is a passionate advocate for animal adoption. She calls a good adoption as “finding the animal’s Furrever Home!” Falling in love feels like finding a “forever home.” You found the missing piece of yourself…you feel whole for the first time in...
by Nancy | Dec 5, 2017 | Conflict, Habit Change, Problem Solving
Remember the opening lines of Fiddler on the Roof? Tevya singing, “TRADITION! TRADITION!” Traditions serve such a valuable service to our cultures and our families. They provide something to depend on when other things in life may be shaky. The repetition of them...
