Tag: blended families
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Anger: Use It Wisely
Why Anger Is Important I am for anger. It’s a useful feeling that lets us know a boundary has been crossed. Anger lets us know we need to do something about that. It’s what and how we do it, and in what volume and circumstance that we express our anger, that can make anger constructive…
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Arguing in Public
Arguing in public I went for a walk out at Princeton Point near Half Moon Bay in December. The rain had stopped after pouring the night before, and it was damp and fresh. I watched a Snowy Egret digging for lunch, a powered parasail fly overhead, saw dogs, surfers, couples and families. Pretty soon I…
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It’s Easier to Love Someone When You Make Them Happy
“It’s Easier to Love Someone When You Make Them Happy.” I saw this quote in a book I’m reading, and it struck a chord in me. It made me think of all of you. It is easier to love someone when you can see, hear, and feel that you are making them happy. Let me…
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Step-Family
Step-Family My four step-sons were here just after Thanksgiving. They are 27, 25, 14 and 11. This was the best time we’ve had together, despite the fact that their grandmother is dying. We went to see them in their natural habitat (Washington State) for a week, and then they came here to be with the…
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Grateful for Love
Grateful for Love I feel such gratitude and thanksgiving this year, even though Mom is dying. I am grateful for you, readers of Couple’s Net. I am grateful for Mom. I am grateful for the son she created, who is my lovely husband. I am grateful for my own son, who is the light of…
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Trying New Behaviors: Fear and Excitement
Trying new behaviors: Fear and excitement are on the same spectrum. Consider, in an evolutionary context, of hunters making the approach: fear and excitement. Think of current times, for example, preparing for a big presentation that may help you in your career, or trying to figure out what to say to your spouse about an…
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Giants Won! Couples Can, Too
Giants Won! Just think: The Giants were the NL wild card team. They had one chance to advance in the playoffs. And the Giants won! They worked hard, they practiced, they used all of their skills, tools, coaching, and heart. I hope they had fun. It sure looked that way at times. Couples Can Win,…
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Marriage Underachievers
Marriage Underachievers I know no one wants to be a marriage underachiever. Would we have low standards for ourselves about our marriage? Whose standards are we using? Have we discussed what we want, what we need, as a couple? What our roles will be as husband and wife (and our view of the other as…
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I Can’t Get a Word In
I Can’t Get a Word In Sherry responded to one of my blogs with this concern about “I can’t get a word in,” [my edits included]: ” . . .Women who finish almost every sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but,’ then carry on, endlessly. The only way to get a word in is to rudely interrupt.” She also…
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Retreat Day
Do you ever have a retreat day, a day where you just want to stay in bed? Tired, a little cranky. It seems it would probably be better off for those around me to be spared my presence. Nothing really terrible going on. Just a retreat day. Do we let ourselves have it? Do we give…