MISUNDERSTANDINGS I hate it when misunderstandings happen. It’s so frustrating! I know we all want to communicate successfully. Often, however, the end result is not as satisfying as we’d like when we are plagued by miscommunication. Even when we try our hardest, it seems there are lots of times that …
One source of misunderstandings & how to avoid them Read more »
Hi Friends! I hope your new year is off to a great start. As you saw, I took about a month off from my website. I was taking time at the end of the year to regroup and pray about the direction for my website. I ended up realizing that …
In 2013 my dad had a series of events that led to him having vascular dementia. The nine years that followed were bittersweet. He was no longer the dad we knew – but he was better in so many ways! My dad was… My dad always had a strong sense …
One of my family’s stories is about the holidays. Every Christmas Eve, my family celebrated a Polish tradition, handed down from generation to generation. The meal includes seven homemade courses and a couple of side dishes. It’s a pretty stressful meal to make, but we love it. Every year my …
It’s an inside joke: Family stories and satisfaction Read more »
Planning time A few times each year, I take specific time to plan as we shift from one season to another. Typically this is at New Years, end of school/beginning of summer, end of summer/beginning of school, and birthdays. Taking time to touch base with my kids during these seasons …
It’s time to plan the next season…AND connect with your kids Read more »
The Late-Summer Crazy The kids are arguing…again. The dishes aren’t put away and the floors need attention. Don’t even ask about the status of the bathroom. The sheen of summer break has grown dull and now we’re in the countdown to school. I know many moms are about crazy from …
Kids driving you crazy? Here are 5 sanity savers Read more »
In the beginning… When my kids were little I read to them, as most of us do. We loved these times together. As they grew older, we would co-read. We generally shared a book and would read when we had time, then discuss it when we had time together. Now, …
Siblings and rivalry go together like peanut butter and jelly. It doesn’t have to be that way, though (but please don’t take away my PB&J – I love it!). While rivalry happens year-round, it can peak during the summer when kids have more time on their hands. Are you tired …
Introduction When we learn to ask clarifying questions we can decrease misunderstandings. Clarifying questions are those that confirm your understanding. When we say something like, “did you mean to say that I’m bad at keeping house?” we are letting the other person know what we heard. When we ask clarifying …
Why You Need to Ask Clarifying Questions in Conversations Read more »
The origins of family traditions For generations, women in my family have gathered on Christmas Eve to prepare a seven-course meal to celebrate the coming Savior. The meal is said to include foods from all geographic systems – fish from the sea, rice and barley from the fields, mushrooms from …