“fractured families

ARE FIBS EVER JUSTIFIABLE?

September 16, 2017"fractured families

You may hate me for this but there are other times when a lie… a little fib… may actually be justified and a good idea. Think of it as a survival skill. I’ll bet somebody once had you believe in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. Now you know they were lying. Stick with […]

COPING WITH RELATIONSHIP BREAK-UPS

January 5, 2017"fractured families

Since there is nothing like the high of a wonderful romance, when a relationship ends the fall from grace can feel catastrophic, even when it is ultimately for the best. Still, nobody likes giving up on a dream. Depending on how long you’ve been coupled, breaking up is much more than losing… or […]

APOLOGY ALERT

October 16, 2016"cracked" communication

AN APOLOGY DOESN’T STAND A CHANCE, IF IT IS NOT SINCERE. When you do feel the need to apologize, chances are you have offended, disappointed or embarrassed someone enough to mess up his/her emotional equilibrium. And if it’s your spouse you’ve dissed, double OOPS. It’s harder when love is at stake, when one of you […]

THE BAD, BAD “D” WORD

September 7, 2016"fractured families

(Take note: This bad, bad “D” word has nothing to do with the “Donald.”) There are certain things you should NEVER SAY to your spouse who you claim to love most of the time, even when you are over-the-top angry. NEVER SAY: “Whatever” … with that, you know the one… dismissive look on your face. […]

WHEN FRIENDS DIVORCE

August 14, 2016"fractured families

When “Betsy” came in for her first appointment, she wore big sunglasses to hide her bigger tears. She finally composed herself enough to explain that her friends “Meg” and “Rory” were getting divorced. It is always hard to watch people you care about, in pain, I said. “THEY’RE NOT IN PAIN… I AM,” SHE SAID. […]

ANOTHER “TIGER MOM” FOLLY

June 18, 2016"fractured families

Amy Chau, the infamous “TIGER MOM,” and contract lawyer from Yale University, has now presented her grown up kids with a “rental agreement.” Really??? Amy and her husband, Jed, the father of her daughters, live in the suburbs of New York and have a well-loved, pied-a terre in the city, which was once their […]

UN-SPOIL YOUR KIDS

April 9, 2016"fractured families

I’ve dared to imply that over-indulged children may end up causing grief for other family members, as well as for themselves. In my mailbox were letters from so many parents. Perhaps it was the term, “AFFLUENZA,” which attracted the attention. “Affluenza” is NOT a mental condition, at least, not yet. Never the less, it has […]