Distinguishing between caretaking and caring for others (caregiving) Caring for others is a healthy part of living in community with those we love and enjoy meaningful relationships with. On the other side of this continuum, however, there is another behavior…
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October 27, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
How you answer the question of whether or not spousal consent should be required before a married woman has an abortion depends upon how you interpret the rights of both mother and baby. I believe that both parents should have equal right…
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August 16, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Impatient for your morning Starbucks, you hit the off ramp and merge into a bottle neck of bumper-to-bumper brake lights. As your lane disappears into a single file of snarled traffic, you punch the radio and settle back, curbing your…
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How frequently do you find yourself at a loss to share the words that will adequately express your hurt, disappointment, or anger to others? We have all experienced the feeling of being misunderstood or judged unfairly. Yet, at no time…
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June 18, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Few of us, if any, would describe marriage as a perpetual state of ecstacy, inspite of the number of romance novels we might read to the contrary. Though most newlyweds enjoy at least a brief period of wedded bliss during…
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On-line dating does not foster the development of healthy relationships. In fact, it does more to impede the process of wholesome relationship-building. Internet dating has made it possible for any individual to create a world in which he can pretend…
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May 16, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Gary Chapman’s book entitled “The Five Love Languages” has helped thousands of readers around the world understand how to fill the emotional tanks of those they love. His work continues to fill a niche all its own and his unique…
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May 16, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
When commitment is one-sided, a marriage ends up either being a marriage in name only, or not a marriage all. This is because marriage is a relationship, a covenant that two people make with each other. Where no covenant exists…
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April 11, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Before this year ends, your child could become one of approximately one million children in America to know the grief and confusion that divorce brings. For you, though, he is much more than just a statistic because he’s your son…
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March 25, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
How many times over the course of your life have you been told, “You just need to accept the fact that…?” A statement like this can leave you wondering if you are being asked to settle for less than what…
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It seems like only yesterday that you were just thirty-something and focused on raising and providing for your young family. You envied your parents as you watched them enjoying the newly found freedom of retirement. Yet each time they packed…
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January 16, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Sharing is the heart and soul of every good marital relationship. When two people come together to be joined in marriage, they are saying to each other, “I want to be with you. I want to share my life with…
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November 30, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
The sacred character of marriage is no more lost than the One who spoke its covenant into existence. The fact that almost forty percent of marriages today are ending in divorce is another issue entirely. What’s really happening here is…
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I am a baby boomer. I am part of a demographic of middle-aged adults who are concerned with how to best meet the responsibility of caring for elderly mothers and fathers. Like many of my contemporaries I have always believed…
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September 1, 2014 Skin and Body
A mammoplasty is a major surgical procedure that should only be considered after weighing the risks and benefits and knowing what to expect before, during and after the operation. Mammoplasties are done for a variety of reasons to change the…
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Anorexia has historically been labeled an issue that afflicts women and girls who struggle with self-esteem, control issues, and poor interpersonal relationships with same-sex parents. There have always been men, however, who have battled the same issues and ended up…
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July 7, 2014 Friends and Peers
Interfering in a friend’s unhealthy relationship is never a good idea. The whole connotation of “interference” smacks of the idea of meddling and intruding in a situation where you don’t belong. This doesn’t mean, though, that you should stand blithely…
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Why do many teenagers go to mom when they need to talk something out? Perhaps it’s because moms are quicker to pick up on verbal nuances and facial expressions. They often sense adolescent turmoil before anything is even said. Mothers…
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The mother-child bond is perhaps the singular most important ingredient in the emotional and social development of a child. Although infants enter the world seeking a mother’s security and warmth, there are severely dysfunctional family influences that can negatively impact…
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Every family has problems. There is simply no such thing as a perfect family. Dealing with different temperaments, conflicting ideas, and individual goals is all a normal part of the challenge of being in a family unit. Sometimes, though, a…
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If you want to assist someone with the grief and loss of a loved one be prepared to affirm the thoughts and feelings that accompany his personal journey of grief. Genuine empathy can provide the support that a grieving individual needs in order to…
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December 4, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
When parents decide to divorce they face the daunting task of knowing when and how much to tell young children about the huge changes that are about to happen to the whole family. In an ideal world, husband and wife…
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August 30, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
Do you recall what first attracted you to your spouse? Was it his sense of humor or her love of the outdoors? Maybe you admired your future wife because she was so independent and smart. Perhaps you knew you couldn’t…
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The phrase “family dysfunction” is a well-worn descriptor used to label a cluster of common traits or behaviors that permeate and twist the dynamics of a family into a tangled web of unhealthy interactions. Although there is no perfect family and each has its examples…
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The growing link between PTSD and domestic violence in military families has become the focus of the Department of Defense, who in October of 2010 announced the launch of a domestic violence awareness campaign to address the increasing number of soldiers who are engaging…
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If you consistently vent your frustrations with a toxic barrage of complaints, you can hurt relationships by taking advantage of those who care about you the most. It’s easy to lose sight of the importance of balancing the need for…
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August 5, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
After a divorce, ex-spouses often struggle with residual feelings of anger. Ending a marriage can be a long and painful experience filled with every imaginable emotion. But by the time the divorce is finally over, feelings of disillusionment, fear, and even…
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The idea of caring for the elderly is sometimes confused by the notion that parents and children eventually change places and that every adult-child is potentially faced with the task of parenting an elderly mother or father. This mindset predisposes the caregiver…
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