Is there a way to gain respect from your stepchildren without turning into an evil stepmonster?
We’ve all heard the famous stepmonster horror stories… like that of the workings of Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s wicked stepmother. And they don’t turn out well… for the stepmoms, that is. Luckily it doesn’t have to be that way in real life. You, in fact, can have wonderful relationships with your stepchildren without overstepping your boundaries but while also maintaining a level of respect and admiration.
In many situations, couples that are married for the second (or even third) time find themselves bringing children into the mix and wondering how to raise and guide the children when there’s more than two parents involved. Oftentimes there are many unrealistic expectations placed on stepfamilies that can lead to a chaotic family life and destruction of the relationship between husband and wife.
Today’s guest is Claudette Chenevert, author of 31 Days to Better Communication for Stepfamilies. Also known as the Stepmom Coach, Claudette is a Master Certified Stepfamily Foundation Coach helping families and stepmoms gain a better understanding of how to manage stepfamily life.
To find out more about Claudette and her work as the Stepmom Coach, visit her website or call (703) 915-2470 for one-on-one coaching.
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Is there a right way and a wrong way to argue?
The answer is yes. And the secret’s out. There is a right way and a wrong way to argue. Oftentimes when couples fight, it becomes husband versus wife, him against her. The issue with that, however, is that the entire sense of the “team” attitude within the couple gets lost in the mess.
With a relationship it’s not about not getting angry or not disagreeing because that’s unrealistic. The true key is staying emotionally connected to someone you view as a teammate in a generally positive way. According to relationship expert John Gottman, there are two types of problems within relationships: resolvable and perpetual; and two out of three problems are perpetual. Luckily, there are conflict resolution skills for each kind of problem that couples can learn and use to ultimately strengthen their marriages.
Today’s guest is Erica Blystone, a licensed clinical social worker with Lepage Associates. After more than 10 years of clinical work with adults, couples, children and families, Erica has seen her fair share of conflict within relationships, and she says there is a way to manage it effectively.
To find out more about Erica and her practice, visit their website or call (919) 572-0000 to schedule an appointment.
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Can you and your partner communicate without saying a word?
For couples dealing with relationship problems, in many ways, actions speak louder than words. Partners often want more attention and affection from each other, and a lack of such can make them feel misunderstood or neglected. Many couples will argue about the little things because they don’t know how to communicate the deeper issues. Oftentimes, relationship partners don’t realize that there can be a sacred level of communication between them that comes without saying a word.
When it comes to the verbal side of things, some couples get caught up on what they intended to say and the words they used, rather than understanding the impact of their non-verbal cues, like body language and tone of voice, and their actions.
Sometimes frustration finds a way to creep into these situations, and especially when couples feel that they’ve said everything they can to make a point. Today’s guest, Dr. Susan Orenstein, says there is a way to quell the anger and frustration that builds up. As a licensed psychologist and the director of Orenstein Solutions in Cary, NC, Susan sees a wide variety of these communication problems and strives to help couples improve their relationship without saying a word.
To find out more about Susan and her practice, you can visit their website or call (919) 428-2766 to schedule an appointment.
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