It seems like a taboo to openly talk about sex and drugs to your kids. For some reason, people have came up with the assumption that your son or daughter are not likely to participate in these activities, which is…
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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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Family bonding and road trips can only be equated in my mind to the beautiful lyrics of of Louis Armstrong wonderful all time favorite tune What a wonderful World! Repeatedly I will tell people, my childhood memories are priceless.  I feel very lucky my siblings…
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No one likes to be criticized, and especially not by relatives, as that generally cuts a bit deeper. So what is the best way to handle it when a family member says something critical to us? 1. Make sure that…
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No one and no family is perfect. Simply put, if you are part of a family yours is dysfunctional.  It’s a continuum. Some families are more functional than others. If something or some group works it “functions.”  Families that “dys”,…
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Do you feel as if your family has become somewhat distant, or is lacking the essential tools to keep it together as a whole? Well I once felt the same way until I learned how to piece it back together….
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The decision to stop speaking to a family member is a serious one that requires a lot of thought. It is not an easy thing to do nor should it be taken lightly. This is not to say that it…
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Family members are often seen as people who have each other’s support no matter what. This is an idealistic approach, but it works for numerous people. However, it is not realistic or even healthy for others. There are people who…
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There are many ways in which families can be dysfunctional, ranging from families in which there is physical or sexual abuse or neglect of the children down to families that have unhealthy boundaries between their members. Often, when dysfunctions are…
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All families deal with estrangement at one time or another. Often times it permeates through every nook and cranny of family life, and yet it’s more often than not…guarded as though it’s a secret. When discussed among others, it’s always…
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Mothers raise their daughters, to the best of their ability, to grow into happy, independent and strong women. They spend a lifetime instilling them with the values and skills they can take into the world with them. Then they grow…
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Holiday time is supposed a fun filled time, a chance to reunite with family members. It is a time to cherish and enjoy the benefits of coming from a large family of 8.  It is a time to encourage and…
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We all agree that no family is perfect, every family has it’s set of problems. Dysfunctional families vary in degree. You have to look at every family individually. What works for one family causes another family to be dysfunctional.  I…
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Should children report their parents for spanking them? This is one topic that really caught my attention. Coming from the generation where spanking was considered appropriate punishment for children, I have to wonder…what have we done? Spanking is not child…
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Having an alcoholic mother can be stressful, disappointing, and embarrassing. Your coping skills will vary, depending on your age and the amount of resources available to you. Nevertheless, here is a guide to help get you through. 1. Embrace Other…
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This is where things get really difficult, when they don’t need to be.  It all starts with the way some parents were raised when they were kids.  Many subscribe to the notion of “Spare the rod, spoil the child.”  I…
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Funny.  I thought it was from family that we learned to handle criticism in the first place.  Maybe my family is unusual, but it is from them that I dealt with criticism first-and most.  That’s still the case, too.  I’m…
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A family living with a disabled child faces many challenges throughout their experience. From finding the strength and confidence to effectively advocate for the child’s needs within the medical community to school based issues families take on several different problems…
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I have often heard it said having 2 women in a household makes for a guaranteed argument. Why is it often the mothers and daughters who have the hardest time relating to one another? I think many different issues can…
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There are probably a million reasons to say no to something. Maybe you don’t like vanilla ice cream, or perhaps you just don’t feel up to going to the mall today. Then there are times when you reluctantly say yes…
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Emotional bulldozing is common in all families. Unfortunately, stopping it may cause a few bruised feelings, but you will be much better off for your trouble. If there is anything that parents, children, and siblings are knowledgeable about in this…
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The fact that this question even has to be asked tells me that some family, somewhere has a member with ADHD, considers the family dysfunctional and wants someone or something to blame.  In my humble (and, perhaps, meaningless) opinion, dysfunction…
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For some, the holidays can bring about feelings of dread as we are faced with the prospect of spending time around family members where there is tension. It is important to try to set aside the past and lingering hard…
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Family is the one organization on Earth that is built with the volatile DNA that is akin to the science of magnetism combined with the potential energy of fire.  Magnets work well together, when opposites attract.  Families work well together,…
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Families are important, for without them we tend to lose the traditions and memories that took years to build. Holidays and special occasions would not seem the same if families did not get together and remaining close is important in…
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When a home environment becomes unstable as in physical beatings or extreme punishment meted out for minor infractions, or the misplacement of a person in a special studies program, a person can become unstable, as well. The effect of the…
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There is no question that, as the cords of family have unraveled, the number of special education classes in elementary and secondary schools have increased exponentially. Even in the general education classes, teachers start training children for statewide tests almost…
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If you are feeling emotionally bulldozed by your family, you’ll need to expand your life. Your family is causing you too much stress, and in order to continue functioning, you’ll need to find ways to reduce this stress. It’s highly…
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Your family may be a wonderful asset to you in many ways, but they can also become a burden if you let them. It is important to keep harmony within the family in order for it to run smoothly. For…
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