by Nancy | Oct 2, 2019
As we are becoming more and more dependent on the instant gratification of checking with Google (or Siri, or Alexa), I wonder if our own impatience can be causing harm. Raise your hand if you’ve recently found yourself doing any of the following: Interrupting...
by Nancy | Sep 25, 2019
The other day when I was clearing out some notes on my phone, I came across a sentence I’d entered more than a year ago. I don’t know whether it was derived from someone else’s words or from my own, so I’m going to take credit for it. This is...
by Nancy | Sep 18, 2019
I know I addressed this subject a few years ago. While I’m not surprised at how often my clients speak of “revenge” during a divorce mediation, I’m kind of embarrassed that it’s taken me a long time to revisit the topic. In the State of...
by Nancy | Sep 11, 2019
Ok, that’s a lie. I am not a worrier. I can’t exactly explain how I got that way, or whether it’s a good idea or a not-so-good one. Worrying is a form of self-protection. It’s an important and instinctive emotion that morphs into action so...
by Nancy | Sep 4, 2019
Psychologists define an enabler as “someone who allows poor choices and decisions to continue despite knowing that those choices can be harmful to the other person.” Could the psychologists be describing you? I know you think you’re simply being a...
by Nancy | Aug 28, 2019
My earliest memory of feeling shame was when I wet my pants at the library. I was four years old, and my mom left me in the children’s section (back when it was okay to do that). I had to pee and I couldn’t find anyone to show me to the bathroom. The...
by Nancy | Aug 21, 2019
Boy, oh boy, have I seen a lot of different types of families! One of the things I love the best about being a Mediator is that no two days are alike. And I’ve come to realize that no two families are alike. Traditionally, families were classified as either...
by Nancy | Aug 14, 2019
My Dad was somewhat of a savant. The fact that he could be counted on to count everything always amazed me. Just like Dustin Hoffman’s iconic “Rainman,” my Dad memorized statistics. What was more amazing was his ability to remember names. I wish I...
by Nancy | Aug 7, 2019
I had an epiphany the other day. Confession: I don’t get them often, but when I have one, I need to write about it. When you read this, you may think that I’m preaching to the choir, or that my self-proclaimed flash of brilliancy is not very brilliant....
by Nancy | Jul 31, 2019
I once drove a Dodge station wagon with faux wood paneling. Enough said. Now that I’ve confessed to you, it’s your turn. When you’re in an argument with your kid, do you find yourself making statements that begin with “You never . . .?” ...
by Nancy | Jul 24, 2019
Let me start by stating that not all daughters-in-law are rude, and not all mothers think nobody is good enough to marry their sons. I happen to have a terrific relationship with my mother-in-law, and I know of many others who do as well. End of disclaimer. According...
by Nancy | Jul 17, 2019
The first house I ever bought was in a brand new development. Eager to meet the neighbors and fantasizing about borrowing a cup of sugar, I was shocked to learn that their main priority was to figure out what kind of fence we all wanted. Fences? What about the cup of...
