by Nancy | Jun 20, 2018 | Communication Skills, Conflict, Problem Solving, Stepfamilies, stepfamily strategies
Reason #1: THE STEP-CHILD You did not conceive, give birth to or delight in the birth of this child. You did not nurse him or walk with him when he had colic. You did not see her first smile or gaze with wonder into her eyes. You didn’t rejoice when he turned...
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 | Jul 23, 2017 | Conflict, Habit Change, Problem Solving
Unhappy with your marriage? Have the same fight over and over again? Has romance become more of a dry business arrangement? It’s not your fault! For centuries whether or not a marriage was “good” for both partners (meaning loving) was largely a matter of luck. If...
