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Divorce: Telling Your Teenager

Teenagers are the easiest and the hardest to inform of your divorce. Reactions can vary from: “it’s about time” to “you can’t divorce,” and everything in between. If the marriage has been highly conflictual between you and your partner, it may be a relief for your teen. If on the other hand, home life has been relatively stable with little apparent conflict for your teen, they may be stunned and then concerned about what that means for him or her. Teens are more likely to take sides with one parent or the other, finding it hard to stay in the middle ground between parents.

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Divorce: Telling Children Ages 6 to 11

You and your partner are divorcing. No matter how tough the decision to divorce telling the children is often the most difficult part. Children ages six to eleven are especially difficult to communicate with about divorce. They understand more than toddlers. They can think and talk about their feelings with a somewhat less ego-centered view of themselves than younger children. However, divorce is a concept that children at this age continue to have a hard time fully grasping. Towards the end of this age, range children can assign blame and often see things in a black and white framework. This it is helpful for children to consider that the family is restructuring itself. It will be changing how the family looks and operates.

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Divorcing: How to Tell Your Preschooler

Divorce is painful. Telling your children is downright difficult. Here are some basics to consider. First and foremost, let your child know he or she will be safe and cared for especially in these earliest formative years. Children younger than four have few if any memories but after that age they do.

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Do You Need Premarital Counseling? Learn Everything About It

First, you might be asking yourself, “why would I want premarital counseling?” My partner and I have a great relationship. I mean we are planning on getting married. Why would we do that if our relationship is already wonderful?”

People marry for many reasons but having a great relationship is not always one of those reasons. Premarital counseling prepares you for marriage. It inoculates your relationship from being worn down by problems and distress through identify the strengths and growing edges of your relationship. Identifying potential problem areas earlier can prevent you from the devastation of divorce. The average national divorce rate in the united states is 48%. Divorce is devasting for individuals and families. It takes a toll on your self-esteem, your children, your career, and your wallet. In many cases, couples can grow through these difficult areas and develop an even better relationship with each other. Before you plan that expensive wedding or honeymoon invest in your relationship first.

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High Conflict Divorce the Effects on Children

Marsha Ferrick, PhD, BCC
“It started with a war between a few
Converted into a war
But who suffered?
The one who was innocent”
Unknown author

Have you ever lived in a war zone? How about a city that has constant air raids and bombs dropping from the air? Most of us have been blessed enough to not have lived in these types of circumstances but some of us have lived in homes where conflict is the norm.

Are you a parent that has a high conflict divorce? Are you concerned about the impact on your children? Good, you need to be. Your children are trapped in a minefield between enemy lines. Every step in any direction is a risk. The wrong word, smile, or acknowledgement to one parent could bring disappointment, sadness, or even wrath from the other parent. It is a dilemma most of us as adults do not want to be in, yet this is the case for your children.

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Shine like Lightning: Life Fulfilling Helping Others

In the midst of a monsoon rain, I found my way to the barn by the occasional bolt of lightning as I traversed the running torrents of water en-route to feed the horses.  I was thankful in that moment for the light created by those bolts of  distant lightning as it assist me through the sheer wall of water cascading from the skies. A welcome and awe inspiring sight in the Arizona desert that I now call home.

This moment sparked some reflection on how some of us are meant to be stars, others of us are meant to be lightning.

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Life Coaching: Will it Help?

Life Coaching is chock full of benefits. Coaching can give you a fresh perspective on personal and professional challenges, improved decision-making skills, greater intrapersonal and interpersonal relationship effectiveness, and increased self-confidence. If you undergo coaching you may find you are appreciably more productive, satisfied with life and work, and attain relevant goals more quickly.

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Reflection through a Mirror named Self-Compassion

First learn to see yourself, then learn to see others, last help them to see themselves.

Mme Ehrenfried

Humans are amazing.

Yet we can be absurdly unaware of ourselves. There are times when other’s can see us more clearly than we can see our own behavior.

In a profession such as mine we spend a great deal of time getting clear about ourselves, our history, and our reactions to the world around us. We develop skills to effectively manage and cope in the world with kind choice, and loving deliberation. We do this so that we can learn to see others clearly, and then help them to see themselves more accurately.

This is no easy task for us or them. It is an ongoing work of self-discovery, unfolding the layers, and serving so others can more effectively help themselves and others.

It is for this reason that we take this humbling journey so that we can with love and compassion assist others to be more loving and compassionate with themselves, and others. In this way we pass goodness and compassion from person to person into the world and we offer a kinder more loving place to be.

Set Limits Like a Jenny

Lack of boundaries invites lack of respect.

Anonymous

It’s her fault, not mine. It’s his fault, not mine. She made me do it. He makes me angry. The language of victims, not owners of their lives. Abdicating the responsibility of our choices is disempowering, and as adults we are ultimately responsible for our feelings, choices, and responses.

In my life, the animal world has served as a wonderful teacher, and metaphor for learning lessons. Here is one I learned from a couple of my little friends.

Gypsy is a Jenny, yes, a little donkey. A miniature to be exact. She hangs out with Mr. Q another mini. He brays too much. He pushes her around at times, until she has had enough of that then she sets a limit, usually a sound kick to his head with both hind feet. Ouch! Really, you’d think he would learn.

When she sets a limit there is no question that enough is enough. Mr. Q being the smart ass, he is respects her limits. One intelligent dude if a bit hard-headed.

Are you setting limits? Good limits? Are you holding those limits? If not remember Gypsy, she is always good at giving us reminders! Setting good limits early on is best. It keeps you from having to be shall we say as forceful as Gypsy!

Or are you like Mr. Q? A bit pushy? Do you get surprised when someone sets a hard limit? Do you respect the limit? Is there a way you might be more aware of your impact on others and soften your approach? A more collaborative approach might be more useful.

The Quest for Boundaries: Honoring Limits, Your, and Others

Boundaries are Invisible Things