By Munira Ezzeldine and Issra Killawi It is important for individuals and parents to communicate with each other about their expectations for courtship and who is considered an ideal partner. This can only occur through honest conversations and active listening.
Why Do We Get Jealous in Relationships?
In an interview, John Gottman was once asked what to do about “insatiable jealousy” in relationships. His response hit on something really profound for me. “I believe that every person has areas of enduring vulnerability. For a marriage to succeed, these
The Domestic Violence Cycle (infographic)
Do you think you’ve been a victim of domestic violence, or know someone who has? This IRUSA infographic shows some of the signs and stats related to domestic violence. For more information and resources, visit irusa.org/saynotodv
Validating Children in Stepfamilies
How to tell kids about divorce: An age-by-age guide
Two thoughtful parents once sat their preschooler down to tell him about their upcoming divorce. Carefully and gently, they told him that Mommy and Daddy were going to stop living together and would now live in different houses, but he
Co-Parenting with your Ex
Dr. Patricia Papernow discusses the difficulties remarried parents experience when caught between their children whom they love and their new spouse. Dr. Papernow is a psychologist in private practice in Hudson, MA, where she divides her time between clinical practice,
How to deal with family members who stress you out
After the holidays, I see a lot of people recovering from spending too much time with their families. Before the holidays, they mistakenly thought to themselves, “This year will be different; this year we’ll have a nice time together.” But
Blending Family Cultures
Recover from an Affair
Addition of a third party, either by mutual consent or secretly, into the intimate circle of a couple’s shared world can wreak devastation to a long-term relationship or marriage. Affairs are right up there with addictions and abusive anger as far as being one
Steps to Ease Dinner Stress for Stepfamilies
Some of the most intense challenges for stepfamilies unfold at the family dinner table. In a stepfamily, the deepest bonds are typically those between the parent and his or her children, not between the stepparent and stepchildren. The parent-child relationship