Becoming a better listener takes a lot of effort, practice, and patience. But one of the best gifts we can give a friend is taking the time to truly listen to them. Some of us are born with the gift of listening ears. Others need a little practice to develop the skill of listening. So, […]
When did we stop having fun?!? 8 easy ways to add fun back into your marriage
I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about what Married Couples Won’t Tell You. It looked a marriage from a stockbroker’s perspective. Needless to say, marriage was rated as a poor investment. Oh, of course I disagree. I love being married. It is one my favorites. There are a lot of words to […]
Practice Happy. Be Happy.
A few weeks ago during family dinner I announced that due to the increasing number of complaints about my cooking, the family could only say what they liked about the meal and keep their dislikes to themselves. I was really hoping this would be a great family lesson in happiness and gratitude. But, then my […]
5 Tips for Surviving the Junior High Years
I recently got an email from a former student of mine who is now in college (yep feeling pretty old right about now…) asking me to give her some tips on working with Middle School students. As I was writing down some ideas that work in the classroom… I thought hey…these are good tips for […]
How to Love Your Husband (when he’s not acting lovable!)
So, I say to Derrick last night, “You know you irritate me sometimes. What can I do about that?” Derrick said, “Get over yourself.” He is so helpful. So, I say, “What about sex.” Derrick, “Yes, sex is helpful.” Me: “How is it helpful?” Derrick: “Sex solves everything.” Me: “This conversation is irritating me. […]
How important is it for my kids to fit in?
And how much should I sacrifice to make it happen? I clearly remember the day my older daughter learned to climb the ladder of the play set in our back yard. She had just turned two, and I remember thinking, “There she goes!” It was another step on her road to independence, and I realized […]