FAMILY RELATIONS

Children learn THE MOST from the natural consequences of things, NOT punishment, NOT threats, NOT even rewards most times. On the other hand, how can we teach our children, without demanding or nudging them in the direction you want? Counsel to children can be provided by allowing them to be self-reliant, inquiring questions, and manageable challenges. Oxford Dictionary defines self-advocacy as the action of representing oneself or one’s views or interests. Self-advocacy is the ability to communicate your needs. Those who self-advocate are more likely to thrive in school, work, and life. Self-advocacy skills can be learned at any age. Teaching children skills to advocate for themselves is an important aspect of their personal development and empowerment. Here are thirteen strategies and tips to help children learn how to advocate for themselves: Encourage self-expression. Create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. E...

The American Bar Association has proven that 89 percent of all divorces can be traced to quarrels and accusations over money. That being said, having a financially stable young family requires careful planning and wise financial habits. Some tips to help achieve financial stability include: Pay an honest tithe: Successful financial management in every LDS home begins with an honest tithe. Paying an honest tithe shows your obedience and dedication to fulfilling God's work. "When we pay tithing we show gratitude for all that God has given us and return to Him a portion of what we have received" (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Create a Budget : Start by tracking your income and expenses to create a realistic budget. Allocate your income towards essential expenses like housing, utilities, food, and transportation. Set aside a portion for savings and investments, and establish limits for discretionary spending. Emergency Fund : Build an emergency fund that c...

We have all heard that communication is the ' key ' to a lasting, happy relationship. However, we often misinterpret that and not all communication leads to a happy ending, so to speak. There are forms of communication that can have negative impacts and hurt others. In a podcast, David D. Burns discusses five communication secrets that can transform conflict and misunderstanding into intimacy and conviction. These “Secrets of Effective Communication” revolve around Empathy, Assertiveness, and Respect. They can also be remembered using the acronym, EAR.    The first “secret” of effective communication is the “ Disarming Technique ”. This is where you find truth in what the other person is saying, even if it seems illogical, self-serving, distorted, or just plain “wrong.” This will most likely require intently listening. Another great idea to add to the disarming technique is to replace negative untrue thoughts with true positive thoughts. There is something ...

A crisis is a turning point with the potential for positive or negative effects or both. Anything a person does as a result of a crisis is a coping pattern, whether they do it on purpose or not. That may be doing nothing. That may also be blaming others. The way an individual deals with a crisis can either be beneficial or unproductive. The following paragraph will describe coping patterns while diving deeper into the definition and effect they have been being used to deal with an issue.    Some signs of Ineffective Coping may be: Denying the problem . This occurs when someone will not perceive things how they really are and refuses to accept the truth. For example, if a woman is abused by her husband, she may deny the fact that he is abusive, and it is an unhealthy relationship because she fears the truth. To break out of the denial pattern, a person must admit there is a problem and choose how to move forward to fix it.  Avoiding the issue . Someone may acknowledge th...

How can you still feel 'close' with the person you are dating without going "too far"? What can you do once the ‘honeymoon’ stage ends in your relationship? How can you show your partner that you love them without including physical touch or inappropriate intimacy? To begin, what exactly is the "honeymoon phase"? The honeymoon phase seems, well, almost perfect. You notice more good than bad, and you’re almost on a “high” of love. Flaws are hard to notice. This occurs because of the flood of dopamine in your brain (aka the pleasure hormone). “ There is a chemical reaction that’s going on in our brains', says Dr. Childs. ' It’s like a reward system. " ' Yet after months of dating, the 'honeymoon stage' fades, and the small, innocent kisses can sometimes feel like not enough. So… how do you know when you are out of the ‘honeymoon stage’? Five of the signs that start becoming clear once the ‘honeymoon phase’ fades are: You find more thin...