In a perfect world, there would be no worries in planning and pursuing a family vacation. However, realities of today’s travel will certainly involve concerns about transportation, costs, safety and a dozen other potential problems. The best way to plan…
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What a horrible premise! No matter what the child does or doesn’t to do, no parent should ever give up and consider their child a failure. Every person who comes into this world has the chance to succeed, especially if…
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My Dad died when I was three. I’ve hardly remembered him throughout my life, except for two flashbacks. In one, I’m playing in a muddy puddle after a rain, and my Dad is leaning down helping me build a mud…
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Recommendations for healthy eating for older adults are very similar to those for people of all ages. The differences are that seniors are more susceptible to the damage overindulging and eating unhealthy foods can cause. The most favorable lifestyle for…
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If you’d ask them, the most favorable transportation option for older adults is the ability to still drive their own cars. However, as people age, the inevitable moment arrives when they should no longer drive. Family members should keep close…
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Remember the old TV commercial showing a distressed elderly woman on the floor? She’s crying: Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! The ad was run so frequently, it became a running joke for comedians. Actually any real emergency…
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There are basically four types of options for elderly people who must consider assisted-living facilities among other residency options. First of all, the typical senior is one who sells the empty nest family home to find smaller, easier to care-for…
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Although our kids are in their 30s, working professionals and live in another city, my wife insists they keep in close touch when they’re traveling. The era of the cell phone and internet has made that task both easy and,…
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Tell them to stay the hell away! If that doesn’t work, move without a forwarding address. If that doesn’t work, wait until the relatives are scheduled to visit, paint spots all over your family’s faces, and post a QUARANTINE: LEPROSY…
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No one knows the sorrow and shame of having a family member in prison until he’s had the same experience. When my brother and I were little kids many, many years ago, our favorite cousin went to prison. One of…
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June 15, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
The empty nest marriage syndrome is that empty feeling parents experience just after the last child has moved away. It can include moments of regret or guilt about how they could have done things differently to raise their children. They…
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June 15, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
Famed roue Errol Flynn once said, ” Marry a courtesan. She already knows how to please a man and enjoys the relationship without the usual feminine emotionality.” He should know. One of his wives was Lili Damita, a fiery lady…
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June 14, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
There’s an old two-line joke that may be relevant to rekindling a couple’s love life as soon as possible after the baby arrives: Doctor to new dad: Now that the baby is here, how long will you wait before you…
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Now that Princess Kate and Prince William are married, there’s absolutely no one out of your league in the dating game. Seriously, if you live in a country where everyone is equal under the law, the same applies in dating…
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Many people would say: Absolutely not! No way would I date my best friend! We grew up together, played in the schoolyard, played jokes on each other and ran with the same group in high school. We’re much too comfortable…
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Fortunately for those concerned with such relationships, modern technology has come to the rescue. More than ever before, keeping a long-distance romance alive today can be done effectively. With the ever-advancing electronic methods of instant written, sound and pictorial communication,…
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Single motherhood requires serious childcare responsibilities, but it shouldn’t keep you from having your own life. One way to get back into the social scene is through online dating. There are many websites that offer online dating, some specializing in…
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When you must converse with a new person, whether at a social event, business meeting or on a first-time date, there can be some awkward pauses. You may smile, stammer and sweat while you try to think of something intelligent…
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Most people who’ve been around long enough, though often wounded, will survive the battle of the sexes. However, no matter what your age, determining if you’re currently in a healthy relationship may require some heavy thought, along with acquiring a…
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Searching through second-hand stores and thrift shops can be a surprisingly positive experience. There are always items there that will interest you. Further, there’s always the possibility that you’ll find an unexpected treasure among the trash. For example, you may…
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Even with all the new electronic ways to communicate, adult loneliness is still a problem for some. First, there was the internet, which gave birth to hundreds of social sites. Then came the friendly explosion when inexpensive cell phones greatly…
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May 16, 2014 Friends and Peers
For an outgoing person, meeting new people is rarely a problem. Starting casual conversations comes naturally at the supermarket, museum, local bar and almost anywhere else. For those who are a bit shy, it may be more difficult. However, anyone…
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May 15, 2014 Friends and Peers
I attended an all-boys’ boarding school from grade one through high school. Girls were always very different creatures, and I doubt if I had anything resembling a boy-girl conversation until I was age 15 and a high school junior. The…
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May 13, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
There are many reasons why people divorce, and the tendency in America for couples to break up has been growing steadily for the past two generations. The current rate of divorce for first marriages is at 50 percent. In the…
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May 11, 2014 Relationships and Family - Other
There are a variety of ways to end an online relationship. If the situation has never included face-to-face contact, it should be a simple process. Despite all the friendly communications over a period of time, you don’t really know each other. Neither…
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May 11, 2014 Relationships and Family - Other
Loving relationships bring wonderful life experiences. People who can bind together often share many positive moments, and they should encourage and support each other. However, sometimes the togetherness deteriorates into a negative situation where one partner becomes too needy. If…
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We could be poster children…very old ones…for aging parents (ages 74 and 84) who need care from our children. Briefly, our daughter started the do it yourself process by strongly advising us to sell our our Arizona home and move…
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In most cases, invited guests who choose to bring uninvited pets to another person’s house are being, to say the least, inconsiderate. If you’re the host under such circumstances, you have every right to tell them the pets will not…
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It is not always a good idea to enter into a joint property ownership with relatives. It makes all of the owners responsible for any police or court action against one. That means if one owner has financial or legal…
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Family Reading Night is celebrated at schools at various times of the year. However, your family doesn’t need a special date to gather and read together. Set your event for any night, and do it often. The benefits are many for…
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