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...
by Nancy | Jan 9, 2019
Is it okay to simply ask “are you okay?” Maybe we need to distinguish between the physical okay and the emotional okay. Obviously, if your toddler takes a tumble and starts to cry, the first thing you’re going to ask is if he’s okay. (Unless...
by Nancy | Jan 2, 2019
We all know a helicopter parent (one who hovers) and a tiger mom (one who roars), but now there’s a new type of parent, the lawn mower. The first time I’d ever heard this term was in a divorce mediation when the husband accused his wife of lawn mower...
by Nancy | Dec 26, 2018
In this, my last post for 2018, I want to get personal. No attempts at wisdom here, and no suggestions to help avoid or resolve conflicts. Instead, I’m writing about what matters to me, and what motivates me to improve. In a single word — relationships....
by Nancy | Dec 19, 2018
I have a friend whose husband sits in his recliner chair from the time he gets home from work until the time he goes to bed. She serves him dinner, fetches his beer, and hands him the remote control as soon as he sits down. She calls the circumference around the...
