Family conflicts are unavoidable. We have many relationships to manage: husband-wife, mother-child, father-child, brother-sister, sister-sister, brother-brother. How do you handle disagreements? Sibling rivalry? What are you doing to equip your children to deal with conflict resolution? The fact that you have differences is not as important as how you handle your differences. There are five styles of handling conflict: “I win” – Relationship is not valued. Needs are met. It’s…
Even in the best of marriages, there are issues. After the flowers have faded and dating is done, the habits that were once adorable, now seem rather irritating. The spontaneous, free-spirit we were attracted to has become unorganized and distracted. The strong leader has become demanding. The organized planner is inflexible, and the gentle soul ceases to have an opinion. Who changed? He? She? Why do we struggle when everything…
As we jump into 2011, let’s reflect a bit on 2010. Are you one who SURVIVED? Or did you THRIVE? Surviving is getting through the day and reacting to situations. It involves short term thinking. Thriving requires planning and evaluating. You respond to situations with a plan, and you have long term thinking. The reality is that there will be days that you just survive. Sometimes you have to survive…
Connect – (v.) to join or fasten together. Connecting allows us to join as a family and fasten our values together. A strong connection requires quality AND quantity time. Are there connection busters in your life that cause you to be: over committed, self-absorbed, preoccupied, fatigued, stressed? Prioritize your life by making sure first things don’t come last. Need help to prioritize? Think: Do I take enough time for the…
