by Nancy | Apr 3, 2019
Raise your hand if you wish you had a magic crystal ball. Newsflash: I’m not a mind reader. If you want me to start doing something, stop doing something, do it more often, or do it less often, you’re going to have to say something. Your...
by Nancy | Mar 27, 2019
Did you know that there are three answers to any request? They are: Yes, No, and I’ll Think About It. Yet for some reason, we tend to dismiss the third option and instantaneously go for either the yes or the no. I am usually quick to say yes, and then after...
by Nancy | Mar 20, 2019
When my big brother was running for third grade class president against Ellen Freedlander, the vote was conducted by the heads-down, eyes-closed, raise-your-hand method. Afraid he’d be caught voting for himself, my brother cast his vote for Ellen and guess what?...
by Nancy | Mar 13, 2019
Do you have possession of the remote? What about the finances? The calendar? I believe that in most healthy relationships, the control winds up balanced — decided by aptitude or by enthusiasm. In my divorce mediation practice, it’s sometimes obvious...
by Nancy | Mar 6, 2019
Am I the only person who thinks competency can sometimes be a curse? There’s certainly a distinction between being capable and being amenable. Just because I know how to make a chocolate souffle doesn’t mean I’m willing to make one for your...
by Nancy | Feb 27, 2019
I recently posted an article devoted entirely to the use of the word “but.” Since that article was published, my colleagues, friends, relatives, and readers have steered me toward an ever-growing list of other words or expressions that cause angst,...
by Nancy | Feb 20, 2019
Last week was Valentine’s Day and I hope, at the end of the day, you weren’t disappointed. I know that some of us are more romantic than others, some of us are not currently in a love relationship, and some of us think Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark...
by Nancy | Feb 13, 2019
I’m one of those people who finds it difficult to ask for help. As an independent woman, I don’t want to be perceived as needy or weak, so I tend to either do it myself, pay someone to help me, or simply forget about it. Does this sound like you? There are...
by Nancy | Feb 6, 2019
Aha! Admit it, that title caught your attention. I probably should apologize in advance if you thought I was talking about anatomy. I’m actually going to talk about the word, not the body part. So, if you’re game to read more, I’d like you to think...
by Nancy | Jan 30, 2019
We’ve all been stuck at an impasse. Co-workers who refuse an additional responsibility, teenagers who won’t respect a curfew, spouses who “forget” to mention use of the debit card, are just a few typical examples. There are global examples of...
by Nancy | Jan 23, 2019
There are many difficult conversations, but probably none as tough as telling your spouse you want a divorce. If you’ve ever had to tell someone that the relationship is over, or if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of this talk, you know what I mean. ...
by Nancy | Jan 16, 2019
Statistics show that one in three Americans is either a step-child, a step-sibling, or a stepparent. That’s a lot of blended families! Those of a certain age can certainly remember The Brady Bunch, but let’s not forget that it was a fictional family. There...
