Old matchmaker’s axiom: To ensure a lifetime of happiness and satisfaction, marry a person that loves you more than you do him. Originally published 28 February 2011.
Archive for the ‘Family Enrichment’ Category
Posted in Family Enrichment, Things Better Off Said, tagged Dating, Happiness, Love, Marriage, Matchmaking, Relationships, Romance on 2012/03/22 | Leave a Comment »
Cultivate Continued Good Behavior With Small Rewards
Posted in Family Enrichment, tagged Behavior, Child, Children, Family, Fun, Happiness, Parent, Parenting, Play-Doh on 2012/03/14 | Leave a Comment »
It goes without saying that parents would like consistently good, constructive behavior from their children, such as putting away toys or cleaning up messes after play. Even though these acts might seem trivial because they are generally expected, parents can encourage continued good behavior by rewarding them with small prizes, such as stickers, from a “prize [...]
Turn Yelling Into A Learning Experience For You & Your Child
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Psychology, tagged Child, Development, Family, Happiness, Learning, Life, Love, Parenting on 2012/03/03 | 1 Comment »
Few parents want to yell at their children, yet nearly all do. We don’t condone yelling at children, but, if you slip, turn it into a teachable moment. When you cool off, sit down with your child and invite him to share his thoughts and feelings about the experience. Listen to him – don’t turn [...]
Welcome To The Family
Posted in Family Enrichment, tagged Commitment, Engagement, Family, Happiness, Love, Marriage, Relationships, Wedding on 2012/02/26 | 1 Comment »
When we marry, we are not marrying just a person. We’re wedding the person’s family. While some of us might be able to separate ourselves from our family, others are not. If there’s a chance that you are marrying a person equally wedded to his or her family, questions such as the following should be [...]
Are Your Values Borrowed?
Posted in Family Enrichment, Personal Enrichment, Psychology, tagged Children, Faith, Family, Love, Parenting, Values, Work on 2012/02/04 | Leave a Comment »
Often, our aspirations are set by our parents. Our parents communicate what is important, what generates value in their lives, through their actions. Parents who work endless hours for their employers communicate to their children that working endless hours is how one emulates maturity and demonstrates commitment to his employer. Step back. Reassess your values. [...]
Irreversible Estrangements Can Cause The Deepest Regrets
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, tagged Children, Family, Grandparents, Happiness, Life, Love, Parents, Relationships on 2012/01/30 | Leave a Comment »
A painful – yet, avoidable – regret is to realize that an estrangement caused between two family members is irreversible at the end of a family member’s life. While growing up, an acquaintance of this blog was told stories vilifying her grandparents by her parents. However, when her grandparents were ill and dying, her parents [...]
Posted in Family Enrichment, tagged Child, Children, Children & Family, Life, Love, Parenting, Parents, Pregnancy on 2012/01/04 | Leave a Comment »
If you’re not prepared to put your children’s interests before yourself, you shouldn’t have children. Children deserve to be more than ancillary characters in their parents’ lives.
Self Preservation Requires Short-Term & Long-Term Acts
Posted in Family Enrichment, tagged Child, Children & Family, Happiness, Love, Parent, Regret, Relationships on 2011/11/18 | Leave a Comment »
Many people get into spats with parents resulting in the child not wanting to speak with the parent. At times, there are very important reasons for creating a barrier of separation from a parent, such as an emotionally or physically abusive parent, or a parent attempting to sabotage a relationship. Not speaking to a person [...]
If You Wouldn’t Do It To Someone Else, Why Do It To Your Child?
Posted in Family Enrichment, tagged Abuse, Child, Children, Children & Family, Corporal Punishment, Hitting, Parenting, Spanking, William Adams on 2011/11/05 | Leave a Comment »
If something, such as striking a person, is inappropriate to do to an adult, why is it appropriate to do it to your child? Likewise, if you’d never do something, such as smacking, to someone else’s child, why do it to your own?
Snapping Fingers Sends A Chilly Message To Children
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, tagged Children, Children & Family, Communication, Etiquette, Happiness, Life, Love, Parenting, Respect on 2011/10/08 | Leave a Comment »
Snapping fingers at children to gain their attention and direct their actions is disrespectful. It treats them as subhuman, deteriorating respect and trust. Try saying the child’s name or communicating your message in a respectful and engaging tone and language, instead.
Being A Jerk To Others Might Hurt The Ones You Love
Posted in Family Enrichment, Getting Ahead, Improving Relationships, Lessons From Divorce, tagged Behavior, Business, Communication, Ethics, Etiquette, Getting Ahead, Jobs, Perspective, Professional Networking, Relationship on 2011/09/01 | Leave a Comment »
If you’re not usually a jerk but you’re thinking about being an extreme jerk for whatever reason, take a couple of seconds to consider what impact your action(s) might have on those you care about, such as your spouse. People who’ve been with you for a while are with you because they know you are [...]
Learning To Communicate Effectively With Your Pet
Posted in Family Enrichment, Pets & Animals, tagged Animal Behavior, Behavior, Birds, Cats, Communication, Dogs, Pet Training, Pets & Animals, Puppies, Training on 2011/08/28 | Leave a Comment »
In yesterday’s post, With A Pet, Don’t Hold Your Breath; Instead, Count To Three!, we mentioned using nonverbal communication to train pets. People who’ve had an animal companion for a while might recognize that both are able to communicate successfully with each other via non-verbally signals. For example, a dog will recognize hand and other signals, such as [...]
With A Pet, Don’t Hold Your Breath; Instead, Count To Three!
Posted in Family Enrichment, Pets & Animals, tagged Animal Behavior, Behavior, Children & Family, Dogs, Pet Training, Pets & Animals, Puppies, Training on 2011/08/27 | 1 Comment »
Want a creative way to train a pet, and a fun way to demonstrate your pet’s intelligence while turning heads? Rather than using clickers or “ssht!” to train and guide your pet, count to three, just as many parents do with children. Counting can work with dogs of all ages. When starting out, treats or [...]
People Before Puppies
Posted in Family Enrichment, Psychology, tagged Behavior, Cat, Child, Children, Children & Family, Crazy, Crazymakers, Dog, Kids, Love, Loyalty, Parenting, Parents, Perspective, Pets & Animals, Psychology, Relationship, Respect on 2011/08/07 | Leave a Comment »
Don’t prioritize a pet over a child. Such behavior is never cute. Consider what prioritizing a pet over a child communicates to that child. A child recognizes that a parent has given greater status to a pet within a family than the parent’s child. Depending on the child’s age, such behavior can compel a child [...]
Rebuilding An Unemployed Spouse’s Esteem
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, tagged Cherish, Children, Chores, Dual-Income, Economic Downturn, Employment, Enrichment, Finances, Household, Husband, Job Search, Jobs, Love, Marriage, Partner, Pets & Animals, Self Esteem, Self Worth, Spouse, Unemployment, Wife, Work on 2011/07/21 | Leave a Comment »
As a result of the economic downturn, a number of dual-income households have been forced to rely on the income of a single person, as once-employed partners struggle to find a new job, or have abandoned their search for a new job. For the unemployed spouse, the experience can be demoralizing, destroying his self-worth. The [...]
Revel In The Love You Share
Posted in Dating, Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Things Better Off Said, tagged Attraction, Beau, Boyfriend, Communication, Dating, Girlfriend, Happiness, Husband, Life, Love, Partner, Pleasure, Spouse, Wife on 2011/06/28 | Leave a Comment »
We’re all busy. Don’t let your schedule get in the way of taking time to revel in the love you share with your partner, or the appreciation you feel for your partner. There’s a good chance you’ll never know how much time you’ll have with your partner before it’s too late.
What Does Infrastructure Say About Your Community?
Posted in Business, Family Enrichment, Getting Ahead, Personal Enrichment, Politics, Psychology, Travel, tagged Bridges, Community, Cronyism, Decay, Development, Ethics, Ethos, Getting Ahead, Goals, Government, Happiness, Infrastructure, Investment, Job Search, Jobs, Law, Moving, Nepotism, Politics, Psychology, Relocating, Roads on 2011/05/23 | Leave a Comment »
If you want an idea of what a community is like, take a look at its infrastructure. The condition of bridges, roads, and other public resources reflects a community’s ethos: it’s priorities, whether the culture is collaborative, the extent to which it is egalitarian – rewarding people based on merit rather than privilege or status, and [...]
Don’t Let The Break-Up Break You
Posted in Dating, Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Lessons From Divorce, tagged Blame, Break-Up, Breakup, Children & Family, Dating, Divorce, Happiness, Life, Love, Marriage, Partner, Pleasure, Relationship, Romance, Separation, Split, Spouse on 2011/05/04 | 2 Comments »
It takes two to maintain a relationship, only one to break it. Sometimes a person’s leaving has nothing to do with you. Sometimes there’s nothing more you can do. Blaming yourself under these circumstances not only gets you nowhere, it takes you nowhere.
Adapting To Love
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Lessons From Divorce, Psychology, tagged Divorce, Happiness, Life, Love, Marriage, Partner, Pleasure, Romance, Spouse on 2011/05/03 | 3 Comments »
Some say we must accept how and who our loved ones are when entering a marriage because no one changes in a marriage. In fact, it’s the opposite. We must adapt in order for our marriages to be successful. If we are capable of change, so are our partners.
Creating Your Health Records
Posted in Beauty, Family Enrichment, Natural Remedies, Personal Enrichment, Things Better Off Said, tagged Age, Children, Children & Family, Foresight, Happiness, Healing, Health, Health Record, Life, Maintenance, Medical, Medical Records, Medicine, Natural Remedies, Records, Youth on 2011/04/25 | Leave a Comment »
Maintain a record of your illnesses, and a record for each of your children. Concussions, headaches, dizziness, bloody noses, colds, infections, allergic responses, wounds, and other symptoms and sources of illnesses. They can track patterns or pinpoint causes. One never knows when such records will come in handy. If you’re in a medical emergency; if your children might need [...]
Are Your Children Forced To Relive Your Divorce Regularly?
Posted in Education, Family Enrichment, Lessons From Divorce, tagged Behavior, Children, Children & Family, Divorce, Education, Enrichment, Ex, Happiness, Health, Homework, Kids, Life, Love, Partner, Perspective, Problem Solving, Relationship, Relationships, Results, School, Solutions, Spouse, Tutor on 2011/04/21 | Leave a Comment »
Feel like your ex is taking out frustration over the divorce on your children? There are several ways in which you can alleviate the pressure on your children. For example, as mentioned in an earlier post, you can modify your affect to influence your children’s response to a situation. Another way is through problem solving: [...]
To Whom Should I Cleave?
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Lessons From Divorce, Psychology, Spirituality, tagged Argument, Aunts, Behavior, Children, Children & Family, Communication, Cousins, Divorce, Enrichment, Genesis 2:24, Grandparents, Happiness, Health, Life, Love, Parents, Perspective, Relationship, Separation, Strife on 2011/04/20 | Leave a Comment »
When parents have children, they have an important decision to make. With children, the parents created a new family. The parents must then decide which to prioritize more – the families into which the parents were born, or the family the parents created. This is a genuine decision as, rather than being objective, some parents [...]
Take Care Of The Ones You Love
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Personal Enrichment, Psychology, Things Better Off Said, tagged Children & Family, Dr. Mark Lachs, Dr. Oz, Friends, Friendship, Happiness, Health, Life, Longevity, Love, Mehmet Oz, Partner, Relationship, Spouse on 2011/04/18 | 1 Comment »
It’s nearly indisputable that the way we approach and live our lives impact our longevity. Numerous studies have shown a correlation between positive outlooks, an ability to adapt to stress, and longevity. Likewise, numerous studies have shown that negative responses to stress and feelings of low self-worth can negatively impact our health and longevity. It’s [...]
Working Magic On Children Hurt During Divorce
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Lessons From Divorce, Psychology, tagged Behavior, Child, Children, Children & Family, Communication, Conflict, Disappointment, Divorce, Enrichment, Ex, Happiness, Health, Life, Loss, Love, Magic, Outlook, Partner, Perception, Perspective, Relationship, Separation, Spouse on 2011/04/17 | 3 Comments »
If you’re committed to putting your children first, understand your ability to affect the feelings of your children in a divorce or separation. It’s inevitable that the actions of a parent or family member might disappoint your child – such as by not showing up to a child’s event, responding poorly to demands on the [...]
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Personal Enrichment, Tales & Curses, tagged Axiom, Humor, Joke, Language, Laughter, Liar, Lie, Truth on 2011/03/29 | Leave a Comment »
A common axiom is that there’s always some truth to a joke. But, there’s almost always some lie in a joke, as well. Greater value is achieved by distinguishing the lie than by identifying the truth.
Give Your Pets A Chance
Posted in Family Enrichment, Pets & Animals, tagged Animal Behavior, Animals, Behavior, Cat, Death, Euthanasia, Friendship, Happiness, Health, Health Care, Illness, Life, Love, Pets & Animals, Relationship, Vet, Veterinarian on 2011/02/15 | Leave a Comment »
Respond cynically to suggestions that your pet should be euthanized due to a health consequence. Recently, a TPLL contributor’s cat began bleeding from its nose. The contributor brought her cat to an emergency medical center. Without testing the contributor’s cat, the attending Veterinarian recommended euthanizing the cat because (a) testing was expensive, (b) medical care could be [...]
To Get What You Want, Be Forthcoming
Posted in Dating, Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, tagged Communication, Dating, Enrichment, Expectations, Feedback, Friendship, Gifts, Happiness, Life, Love, Pleasure, Presents, Relationship, Sharing on 2011/01/02 | Leave a Comment »
If you have a partner that historically has not been the most thoughtful gift giver, be honest with the person and provide him guidance on what you want. It’s inequitable to hold a person to expectations that have not been communicated to him. Plus, it will ensure a more satisfying event.
In The End, Which Regret Would You Prefer To Accumulate?
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Lessons From Divorce, Personal Enrichment, Things Better Off Said, tagged Accumulation, Age, Cheer, Children & Family, Enrichment, Friends, Friendship, Fulfilled Life, Fulfillment, Happiness, Health, Holidays, Hope, Intent, Life, Love, New Year, Pleasure, Regrets, Relationship, Unfulfilled, Unfulfilled Life, Youth on 2010/12/31 | Leave a Comment »
Accumulating regrets is inevitable. When the hope and intent was not to hurt anyone, regrets about what you have done suggest you have lived a good life. Regrets of things you have not done suggest an unfulfilled life. In the end, which type of regret would you prefer to accumulate? May you find wonder and reward in each [...]
Parenting Lessons From the 2010 Midterm Election
Posted in Family Enrichment, Politics, Tales & Curses, tagged 2010, Axiom, Children, Daughters, Election, Friends, Friendship, Lessons, Midterm Election, Parenting, Parents, Politics, Relationship, Sons, Youth on 2010/11/04 | Leave a Comment »
A theory explaining the 2010 midterm election results trumpeted by a number of political pundits is that President Obama lost the enthusiasm of his base because he did not prioritize the interests of his base above compromise. Whether or not this is true, such a theory has a lesson that can apply to parenting children. [...]
Items Studies Show To Avoid (But Often Are Not) While Pregnant Or Breast Feeding
Posted in Family Enrichment, Natural Remedies, tagged Alcohol, Artificial, Aspartame, Autism, Behavior, Breastfeeding, Caffeine, Consequences, Diet, Enrichment, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Food, Health, Infants, Mothers, Nutrition, Postnatal, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Wellbeing, Wellness on 2010/11/04 | Leave a Comment »
Suspicion that mercury and other ingredients in vaccines contribute to autism has caused a furor. The dangers of pre- and postnatal alcohol consumption have been widely disseminated. While receiving less attention, it might be best to avoid regularly consuming caffeinated drinks and products laden with artificial ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners, while pregnant and breastfeeding, as well. Study [...]
Youth Is Wasted On The Young?
Posted in Family Enrichment, Personal Enrichment, Tales & Curses, tagged Choices, College, Decisions, Dreams, Education, Enrichment, George Bernard Shaw, Goals, Happiness, Industry, Life, Problem Solving, Regret, Wishes, Young, Youth on 2010/10/31 | 1 Comment »
The adage “youth is wasted on the young” (from George Bernard Shaw) raises two issues. (1) Often, it is driven by adult regrets and a presumption that the person has reached a stage in life where it is too late to change things (the feeling of irreversability being the issue). (2) If we truly feel this way, what actions are [...]
Tool For Making Consequential Decisions
Posted in Business, Dating, Family Enrichment, Finances, Getting Ahead, House Matters, Improving Relationships, Job Search, Lessons From Divorce, Manage Successfully, Personal Enrichment, Resignation Tips, tagged Decision Making, Decisions, Goals, Guidance, Life, Making Decisions, Priorities, Problem Solving, Resign, Resignation, Successful Management, What to do? on 2010/09/24 | Leave a Comment »
Trying to make a big decision, such as leaving a job or buying a house? The following steps might aid in making the decision. Identify your goals and priorities. To the extent possible, establish measurements for these two items. Identify why you want to make the decision. What are the differences achieved by the decision? [...]
Share Your Experiences, Educate Others
Posted in Family Enrichment, tagged Communication, Education, Employment, Enrichment, Ethics, Grad, Intern, Learned, Lessons, Perspective, Sharing, Tuition, Wages, Youth on 2010/09/09 | 3 Comments »
Communicate the lessons you have learned to your children as they gain independence. Most children are unable to identify every situation in which they should seek guidance from a more experienced adult, leading to delayed or lost opportunities. For example, our post regarding an employer’s obligation to pay for time worked resulted from a ploy used on young college students who trusted their [...]
Posted in Family Enrichment, Personal Enrichment, tagged Employment, Enrichment, Jobs, Life, Office Politics on 2010/08/20 | Leave a Comment »
Except when it is required to be performed at home, leave work at the office!
Breaking Patterns
Posted in Family Enrichment, Improving Relationships, Personal Enrichment on 2010/07/26 | 1 Comment »
Stuck in the same frustrating pattern of communication with a family member, such as a child, spouse or parent? You can’t change a person, but, you can affect their response by changing your approach. Identify the pattern you’d like to break. What are the typical responses by those involved? What is the stimuli driving those [...]
“Who’s Training Who?” – Parent Edition
Posted in Family Enrichment, Tales & Curses on 2010/07/24 | Leave a Comment »
Do you find yourself changing your behavior in order to avoid conflict with one of your children? For example, do you not inquire into your child’s homework or how school was because she snaps back at you? Or, only prepare certain foods because he refuses to eat anything else. Remember that you are the parent [...]
“Children Are Our Future”
Posted in Family Enrichment, Personal Enrichment, Tales & Curses on 2010/07/19 | 1 Comment »
Some people focus more on building relationships with their buddies, friends and associates than they do on their children. Contributions not passed along through our progeny fade with our friends.
Forsaking 2/3 For 1/3?
Posted in Family Enrichment, Personal Enrichment on 2010/07/17 | 1 Comment »
It’s natural that we would want what we spend 1/3 or more of our adult lives doing, working, to have meaning. However, for most of us, it will not. Do not try to make the 1/3 more meaningful at the expense of the other 2/3 of your adult life. If you’re able to enrich the other [...]
Don’t Drink The Kool-Aid
Posted in Family Enrichment, Getting Ahead, Personal Enrichment on 2010/07/11 | Leave a Comment »
As an employee, you’ll never get back from a company the amount of loyalty and dedication you put into it. If you over invest in your employer, it is inevitable that you’ll feel your employer has taken advantage of you. Invest the additional effort in things that will continue to have significance after you retire, such [...]
Tell Them You Love Them
Posted in Family Enrichment on 2010/07/10 | 2 Comments »
Let your children know that you love them, before, during and after a fight.
Be IN The Picture
Posted in Family Enrichment on 2010/07/10 | 1 Comment »
Have someone else take the pictures. Spend the moment with your kid!
Solving Conflict Through Whispers
Posted in Family Enrichment on 2010/07/10 | Leave a Comment »
If your partner starts yelling or seems to be headed towards the deep end, lower your voice. Continue to lower your voice as long as it takes your spouse to lower theirs.
Don’t Let A Fight Get In Your Way
Posted in Family Enrichment on 2010/07/10 | 2 Comments »
It’s natural to fight. You won’t agree on everything. To maintain a strong, healthy relationship filled with respect, keep your head during a fight and try not to say anything deliberately insulting or hurtful, regardless of how upset you are. Remind your spouse that you still love him, even while you fight.
Are Your Values Borrowed?
Posted in Family Enrichment on 2010/07/10 | Leave a Comment »
Often, our aspirations are set by our parents. Our parents communicate what is important, what generates value in their lives, through their actions. Parents who work endless hours for their employers communicate to their children that working endless hours is how one emulates maturity and demonstrates commitment to his employer. Step back. Reassess your values. Make sure that they [...]
