advice

It takes a village to raise a family; advice and tips to make the most of yours.

I Stopped Lecturing My Kids and Started Rearranging Their World
My mother said it again at dinner: “You need to listen to advice. Stop thinking you’re always right.” I’ve heard that sentence for over thirty years. From choosing my major in high school, to changing jobs, to what extracurricular classes I signed my kids up for, she can always circle back to it. She doesn’t say it harshly. There’s even a settled satisfaction in her voice, the feeling of a task completed: I’ve said what needed to be said, I’ve given the reminder, the rest is your business.
By Jinabout 17 hours ago in Families
10 Signs of a Healthy Relationship and What They Really Look Like
Nobody's relationship is going to be perfect. You're going to misunderstand one another, think differently, and need time away from each other. How you act towards each other on an everyday basis is what makes it healthy.
By Alex Mall2 days ago in Families
How to Rebuild Trust After a Relationship Setback
Once something happens that damages your trust, your partner could have let you down in some way. Maybe they lied about buying something, told someone something private, or didn't show up for you when you needed them. It may not have seemed like a big deal to them, but it can be devastating to you.
By Alex Mall3 days ago in Families
Visiting My Younger Self. AI-Generated.
If I could sit down with my younger self for just a few minutes, there are so many things I would want to tell her. First, I would tell her to stop worrying so much about what people at school think. When you're young, friendships, cliques, popularity, and fitting in can feel like the most important things in the world. You spend so much time wondering if other people approve of you and whether you belong.
By Missy Jacobson3 days ago in Families
Taking the Scenic Route to the Point
My wife and I do not always take the same route through a conversation. If I ask her a straightforward question, I generally expect a straightforward answer.
By George Dimitriadis3 days ago in Families
Why Being a Mother Is So Tough?
“Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed.” — Linda Wooten
By Seema Patel3 days ago in Families
I Traded 997 for 955. Now I’m Rethinking My Daughter’s Grades.
At five in the afternoon, I push the door open. Little Lemon is sitting on the play mat, building with blocks. She looks up at me, then lowers her head and keeps building. I hang my bag behind the door, squat down, and ask what she is making. “A big tall building,” she says, and presses a red block onto the top. The building collapses. She stops for a second, then starts laughing.
By Jin3 days ago in Families
I Won’t Hold My Daughter to a Standard I Refuse to Live By
I A few years ago, the last thing I did every night before lying down was open job-hunting apps. Not to send résumés. Just to scroll. Scroll through what peers were doing, which companies were hiring, what job titles and salaries people my age had. I’d scroll until one or two in the morning, eyes dry, mind still running. The next day I still had to go to work. 955. Not tiring, but I was sleepy.
By Jin3 days ago in Families
One-Sided Relationships: Signs, Causes, and What You Can Do
Sometimes your partner may be giving you less attention than you give them. Whether it's due to work stress or something at home, there can be reasons your partner may not be as attentive. Just because they aren't giving you as much attention does not mean that the relationship is one-sided.
By Alex Mall5 days ago in Families
Relationship Problems: How to Talk About What’s Not Working
No relationship is perfect. There will be times you fight over finances, you don't feel valued, can't trust each other, or find yourself having the same argument. Problems aren't always a bad sign. However, problems can create a distance between you if you don't address them.
By Alex Mall5 days ago in Families
I Don’t Have $1 Million. I’m Still Feeding My Goose.
Every payday I do one thing. I pay bills, set aside what the family needs, and move the small remainder into a card I rarely touch. The amount is small enough that I would rather not say it out loud. A few days later I open the app and see the number has risen since last month. Something in me brightens. The feeling is ordinary and solid, like pulling a sun-dried blanket over my hands.
By Jin5 days ago in Families
I Didn’t Give My Kid a Phone Until 9th Grade. Here’s the Rule That Made It Work.
Many children’s dependence on phones began during the pandemic online classes. Long periods of online schooling gave many kids early exposure to phones. Our family was stricter at the time, and we never gave our child a phone during elementary school.
By Jin6 days ago in Families