Tag Archives: connection

Love Notes for a Single Parent Family

Let’s face it—we just can’t get enough love and affection. When it comes to building a strong single parent family, it can take some extra effort to make sure that our children feel cherished, safe, and loved. Over the years, I have learned to look for opportunities to send my kids “love notes” as they go back and forth between houses, or just little notes of encouragement when the least expect them. When my kids were younger and I did the bulk of the packing for their trips across town to their father’s house, I would tuck little messages and … Continue reading →

Finding Things to do With a Son

My son is fifteen—not the easiest of ages for a teenage boy and certainly not the easiest of times for a single mom. Where we used to go to lunch and movies together and be able to sit side-by-side on the couch, there is now misunderstandings and distance. I notice that we both still try to talk to each other but we don’t always connect like we used to. Mostly, I am learning that finding things we can do together helps take the pressure off and gives us a way to connect without too much closeness. As the “baby,” my … Continue reading →

Trying to Connect With Your Child? Consider Sitting on the Floor

I know that many of us were taught that with little children (babies and preschoolers) we should get down “on their level” to interact with them. But, there is no reason this fine technique should go away as our children hit elementary age. I think that any time we can put ourselves in a more accessible physical position, it can open up the lines of connection and communication with our child. As example, I have found that when my teens are having a hard time, and they obviously need to talk to someone but are not warming to talking to … Continue reading →

There is Nothing on Earth like Being a Parent

I have a fair amount of child-free friends, and I have also heard people at various times compare this or that to being a parent. I’ve heard the writing of a book, or seeing a house built compared with giving birth, and heard people of various professions compare what they do to being a parent. It has become a bit of an annoyance and a pet peeve of mine because as far as I’m concerned—there is nothing out there, on earth that compares to being a parent. I understand that there might be little snippets and pieces of things that … Continue reading →

Make Love Not War

When we’re married, we sometimes forget the old adage of making love and not war. A couple I know uses this phrase to help defuse bad situations between them. In fact whenever they begin to have a disagreement, argument or debate – they say this to themselves either internally or out loud to each other. I sat down with them recently to ask them a few questions and they agreed to answer them. Question: What is the phrase that you both use whenever you are disagreeing? Answer:: Make love, not war. My grandparents used to say that whenever my dad … Continue reading →

Make Yourself Trustworthy

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Trust is one of those words that rolls off the tongue easily, but is harder to frame in an emotional definition. Trust is a sensation. It’s an experience. It’s a knowledge. Trust is very much linked with faith in that you put your belief into it – but trust also has tangible results. Initially, we learn to trust those who validate us. We trust those who live up to our expectations, who show us consideration and who prove to us they can be trustworthy. We learn to distrust those who treat us as an adversary in a competition. We distrust … Continue reading →

What Can Husbands Learn From Their Wives?

In Dave Barry’s The Complete Guide to Guys, he writes about the huge gap between women and men with regard to their views on friendship and emotional connections. He talks about how when he and his wife get together with old friends, the women immediately begin having an intense catch-up conversation about events and their feelings. Barry and the other husbands watch the game or playoffs. Their emotional conversations are usually limited to arguing over what kind of pizza to order. Barry exaggerates that when the other couples have departed, his wife will say something like: “Isn’t it great how … Continue reading →