How Can I Stop Worrying All the Time?
We know way too much. Information from every corner of the world comes flooding in, and much of it is not good—tragedy, terror, trauma . . .
View ArticleTempering Tantrums
Kids get upset a lot. Adults do too. In fact, miserable feelings are a gift from G‑d, a signal that something is wrong and needs to be fixed.
View ArticleThe Best Way to Support Your Loved Ones in Crisis
We know it all: G‑d has a plan. It’s all for the good. Think positively. And we so badly want to say all these things to our loved ones when they are having a hard time. But sharing these pearls of...
View ArticleHow to React When Someone Hurts Your Feelings
Strange things happen when we get hurt . . .
View ArticleHow to Eradicate Your Child’s Anger
Our sages tell us that we should aim to avoid extremes in our personal expression and experiences of emotions. But when it comes to anger, we are admonished to remove it entirely.
View ArticleHow to Teach Your Child Gratitude
Although parents may feel awkward about insisting that their child thank them, they need to remember that this thanking is not for their own sake, but for the child’s sake.
View ArticleMy Teenager Doesn’t Share My Values
Is there anything I can do to turn things around at this late date, or is it just too late?
View ArticleWant Your Kids to Listen? Then Read This
Parents are often so intent on teaching that they overlook a critical aspect of education: the teaching strategy.
View ArticleSmile, and the World Smiles With You
Smiling and loving are related; they are both activities of harmony and unity. Both bring people together, melting away differences and conflict.
View ArticleHow to Be Happy
Life is hard. So many painful, disturbing and distressing events occur to us and to the world around us. Can we really be joyful in this kind of environment?
View ArticleTalking Too Much - I have so much wisdom I'd like to convey to my kids!
We have so much advice! And saying those words directly is the easiest approach. Why beat around the bush?
View ArticleHow To Protect Your Love
After many years, however, a truly loving marriage becomes a rarer commodity. Along the way, things sour romantic and caring feelings. And yet, it doesn't have to be this way at all...
View ArticleUnlikeable Kids
Although parents don't like to say this aloud, it's a fact that they sometimes don't like their children...
View ArticleCan't Take "No" for an Answer
Tali has a very good chance of growing up to be an obnoxious young lady. She may use badgering and battering to get what she wants. She will have learned the lesson that most people can't tolerate a...
View ArticleJealousy in the Family
When you cultivate a "we" sensibility in the family, your child will feel less competition and more identification with siblings
View ArticleNeedy Children
Needy children are that way because of inborn temperamental traits. In most cases, they will remain more demanding throughout childhood. For this reason, parents need to help themselves as well as...
View ArticleSee It Your Way
During negative cycles, spouses often feel overwhelmed and hopeless. "I never should have married this person. I'll never experience true love." Usually, the sufferer waits for the spouse to somehow...
View ArticlePut On a Happy Face
The Talmud explains that smiling at someone is an even higher form of charity than giving him money, because the smile will enhance the recipient's well-being on every level of body and soul...
View ArticleAlternative Explanations
Spouses are known to behave badly at times. They whine. They nag. They criticize, complain, lecture and rant. They forget. They neglect their responsibilities. They neglect themselves. They neglect us!
View ArticleEach According to His Way
Oh, we might have one or two really easy children – children who were born sunny side up and barely need guidance from us. But many of us have children on the opposite end of the spectrum...
View ArticleGaining Cooperation
Both husbands and wives can ask each other to change some aspect of their behavior in order to bring about improvement. This is not the same as trying to control one’s partner...
View ArticleShould We Tell the Kids?
Although children aren't stupid, this doesn't mean that they are able to properly digest and process all of the circumstances of their young lives...
View ArticleTuning In
We spew fountains of information aimed at helping them grow and improve. It seems counterintuitive that we should stop talking and listen...
View ArticleBad Parenting Days
Parenting brings out the best – and the worst – in everyone. No matter how much we love our children, we will find ourselves saying and doing things that we later regret...
View ArticleDisrespectful Children
Those who communicate with harsh language, hurtful words or ugly gestures will lose more than they will ever gain by their “honesty.” They will lose love...
View ArticleNot Enjoying Parenthood!
Clearly, people can find parenting some kids to be hard, disappointing, frustrating, overwhelming or even just tedious. Since this isn’t the way parents are “supposed” to feel, those who don’t enjoy...
View ArticleHow to Raise Confident Children
Of course it’s important for children to have confidence and self-esteem, but there’s a rub: what if the parent lacks it? What if the parent is insecure?
View ArticleSon Is Moody, Mean and Miserable
I feel terrible saying this, but the best time of year for us is summer, when Mendy goes to sleepaway camp. We all can finally breathe!
View ArticleHelping Children Develop Faith
It is an act of tremendous kindness on our part to help our children learn to swim confidently in the deep end of life, to have all the internal resources they need in order to deal with every...
View ArticleHurt Feelings
I would have thought that the teasing child is to blame for causing upset to the other youngster. Am I wrong?
View ArticlePraise Your Spouse!
Praising our spouse reminds us that the person we share life with is wonderful in his or her own way.
View ArticleBack to the Calm
Because we live with family members, there are innumerable opportunities for experiencing frustration, hurt and upset.
View ArticleRaise Your Hand if You’re Humble
Today we value aggressiveness, extroversion and charisma. And yet humility is the trait most prized by G‑d.
View ArticleMy Irritable Mood - And how I conquered it
When I’m in my irritable mood, I don’t want to listen to a single complaint from anyone in my household.
View ArticleDon’t Forget
Positive constructs are more effective than negative ones, especially when talking to kids.
View Article4 Steps to a Great Marriage
Whether you’re ready to throw in the towel or just want to improve your marriage, here are four practical perspectives that can help your marriage survive and thrive.
View ArticleThe Ho-Hum Marriage
While we want, and may even feel entitled to, everything good in life, having it all will stunt our growth.
View ArticleSmall Changes, Big Differences
Even when internal and external factors pull on the child’s heartstrings, there are things that a parent can do to increase his or her own power of influence.
View ArticleOops! It’s a Mistake!
Yes, children make mistakes, and so do we. It’s the human way, and it’s okay. Let’s just try again.
View ArticleE‑Mail in the Sky
Once words are in print, they feel very permanent. Once you put it out there, it’s out there; you can’t take it back.
View ArticleChoose Six
G-d makes a very precise calculation, titrating our spouse’s flaws to our unique vulnerabilities.
View ArticleAlways Angry
No matter what we choose to do in order to address our anger, it cannot include waiting for the world around us to improve.
View ArticleYou Don't Love Me!
I see how my friends’ husbands treat them. They practically trip over their feet trying to take care of their wives. You can see the love in their eyes.
View ArticleMiss Grumpy Toes
No matter how reasonable my instructions and requests are, my daughter gets mad.
View ArticleWhat to Do When Your Child Is in Trouble
Your doorbell rings. You open it to find a large man wearing a police officer’s uniform standing on your doorstep.
View ArticleSlow Down and Smell the Roses
Just a few intentional minutes here and there throughout the day are enough to reset our system and restore balance.
View Article4 Discipline Tactics to Avoid
Many of the actions we take to educate our youngsters have little or no positive impact.
View Article8 Ways to Get Your Teen to Cooperate
How can I turn my lazy, self-centered youngster into a responsible and caring member of this household?
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