Relationship Red Flags
Relationship red flags are behaviors that need to be questioned or addressed when you observe them in your partner. Most relationship red flags are related to violating the basic pillars of successful relationships — trust, communication, respect fidelity, etc. Sighting your partner waving one of these red flags isn’t necessarily an indicator that the relationship […]
What Men Wish Women Knew
Ever wonder what men wish women knew about them? One thing they would love is if women would just come out and tell them what they want when it comes to gifts for holidays or birthdays! Women are often disappointed when their gentleman doesn’t get them what they were hinting for, but with men you […]
Finding Love After Divorce
We like to romanticize the idea that our “first love” will be our only love and that marriage should be forever, which makes us petrified of the idea of divorce. However, with over half of all marriages ending in divorce, it’s a fact of life we have to face, and dating after divorce can be […]
New Relationships: Dating and the Holidays
It’s getting close to that time of the year again; the holiday season is fast approaching. The holidays are a time for being with those you care about – family, friends and neighbors, and significant others. But, what do you do if you have just started dating someone new around this festive time? How much […]
Dating a Younger Man
Are you dating a younger man? When romance happens between two people, an age difference often doesn’t matter, so don’t let “a number” come between you! What makes or breaks a couple are the things they have in common such as similar maturity levels, future goals, backgrounds, personalities, and communication levels. But, because younger men […]
First Dates and Relationship Compatibility
The first few dates with someone new can be tricky: you want to get to know them better, but you don’t want to waste your time doing so if they aren’t the right person for you. Obviously these dates are the time when you need to ask questions to get an idea of your relationship […]
Do You Have Relationship Compatibility?
Worrying about how you can tell if you and your date are compatible? The first thing to do is to separate physical attraction from compatibility! Just because you are attracted to each other does not mean you are compatible in the way that you need to be to have a potential future together. He may […]
Improving Listening Skills
Do you ever find that you are the one person in the room who is doing the most talking? Chances are that when you do this you are nervous, but it doesn’t endear you to others. When you listen more and talk less, you show people that you care enough about them to really hear […]
Step Parenting: Talk About Expectations
Step parenting can be challenging, but there are ways to blend families with children from prior relationships so that the process is easier. Very important: the new couple should talk about their expectations of both family life and their individual roles within the new family. Most people never take the time to do this before […]
Communications Problems in Relationships
When you are in the midst of an argument, it can be really hard to take a step back and listen without interruption. But, statistics tell us that misunderstandings often result from interruptions before a person has had a chance to fully communicate what they are trying to tell you. We think at about 1,000-3,000 […]
Blended Family Obstacles
Are you blending step families? This can be a source of conflict from a surprising corner – the prior in-laws! Maybe they are close to your ex-spouse and still feel some loyalty to him or her or perhaps they aren’t giving your new love a chance to prove themselves. Either way, exercise patience. It take […]
Talk Less, Listen More
In personal relationships, as well as in life, most people listen to others with an intent to respond, not with a focus on really listening to what the other person has to say. This is often the area where relationships fail – because people aren’t “hearing” what the other person is telling them! One way […]