DO GRANDPARENTS HAVE RIGHTS?

I am not a grandparent, and I had only one, my grandpa Sam, who died when I was six.  But I witnessed firsthand the special relationship my parents had with their grandchildren, as well as the loving, caring and fun that many of my friends are currently having with...

SEX WITH YOUR EX — GOOD IDEA?

Let’s face it: sex is an important part of almost every relationship and, correspondingly, sex is an important part of why many relationships end. But once it’s over and you’re adjusting to your new life, is it ever a good idea to have sex with your...

Aging Parents? Part 2

Having a difficult conversation with an aging parent is no picnic. There can be dozens of underlying issues stemming back decades and, when you and your adult siblings don’t see eye-to-eye, it might get ugly. Here are some suggestions to help the process go...

Aging Parents?

As our population ages, we see older adults all over the place. We’re living longer, and seniors are leading active lives. That is, until we see things start to change.  I frequently talk with families about how roles have reversed, and adult children are...

4 Things Not To Say In Anger

Have you ever been in a heated discussion with a loved one or a co-worker, only to find yourself enraged by a single statement? In retrospect, you acknowledge that your partner, sibling, colleague or parent knows exactly how to push your buttons, and you probably know...

Getting Revenge Against Your Ex

“Vanity Fair,” by William Makepeace Thackeray (note his middle name) was required reading for me as an English Lit major in college. The only thing I actually remember from the book was the line, “Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.”...

Do Men Have it Harder (During a Divorce)?

When it comes to divorce, are men given the same consideration as women? I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately; wondering about the different ways men and women approach divorce, deal with it, and how we all survive it. And although every situation is unique,...

My Humans are Getting a Divorce

They waited until we got to the dog park before they dropped the bombshell. They’re splitting up! My dad is moving out of the house this weekend! I had no idea their marriage was in trouble. Of course, I’m easily distracted by a Milk Bone, so I haven’t paid a lot of...

Four Steps to Help Deal with Guilt when Ending a Relationship

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt guilty about something. If that feeling was pleasurable, you may lower your hand. Aha! Still have your hand in the air? I thought so. You may now put your hand down. It’s unanimous – guilt isn’t fun. So we stay in unfulfilling,...

4 Simple Steps to Becoming a Better Listener

Has anybody ever told you that you’re a good listener? Or accused you of not listening? How often do you hear the rhetorical “Listen” at the start of a political commentary, or in answer to a debate question? I challenge you to be aware of the word for a day or two,...

Is There a Wicked Stepmother in Your Family?

This is a blog post that originally posted on LGDesigns.co as a guest blogger. This topic is one I am familiar with, having helped families overcome communication issues and differences of opinions over a period of several years. If you have a wicked stepmother in...