Posted on October 10, 2007 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
Are you emotionally out of shape? Psychologically exhausted? Tramped on? Feel trapped? Just as a person can be physically run down, so also can one become emotionally depleted. Here are simple, not easy, steps to getting your internal life into shape. Each will do your internal life as much good as frequent exercise does for [...]
Filed under: Alcoholism, Anger, Authentic love, Betrayal, Boundaries, Cheating, Children, Coaching, Communication, Community, Control issues, Dads, Differentiation, Difficult Relationships, Disrespect, Divorce, Domination, Double standards, Family, First date, Flirting, Forgiveness, Friendship, Growing up, Happiness, High maintenance relationships, Intimidation, Jealousy, Listening, Living together, Long distance relationships, Marriage, Marriage and in-laws, Meditation, Parenting/Children, Past relationships, Personal growth, Pornography, Re-marriage, Reactivity, Recovery, Relationships, Sexual abuse, Sexual compatibility, Toxic Relationships, Victims, Violence, Voice | Tagged: , drink, drunk, emotional, exhausted, help, Marriage, remarriage, tired | 7 Comments »
Posted on October 2, 2007 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
“Three years ago our pre-marriage counselor used a few of your columns to get us talking. I was annoyed because they made our engagement seem so business-like and so un-romantic. It seemed very cold to discuss money when you feel so in love. Now I can see how important it was to talk about money [...]
Filed under: Attraction, Authentic love, Boundaries, Coaching, Communication, Community, Compatibility, Control issues, Differentiation, High maintenance relationships, Home, Listening, Living together, Love, Marriage, Marriage and in-laws, Money, Personal growth, Responsive people, Spousal abuse, Teenagers, Toxic Relationships, Violence, Voice, Weddings | Tagged: better life, Counseling, counselling, future, husband, Marriage, pre-marriage, wife | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 30, 2007 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
1. Are we spiritually, financially, psychologically, and emotionally, sufficiently suited to each other?
2. Do our long-held, individual, long-term, personal goals and personal dreams somewhat fit with each other?
3. What do we each imagine is possible for us to achieve (service to the poor, overseas travel, learning [...]
Filed under: Attraction, Blended families, Boundaries, Communication, Community, Compatibility, Control issues, Differentiation, Divorce, Education, Family, Generosity, Happiness, High maintenance relationships, Interpersonal intimacy, Listening, Love, Marriage, Marriage and in-laws, Money, Re-marriage, Relationships, Sexual compatibility, Toxic Relationships, Victims, Voice, Weddings | Tagged: , boyfriend, Compatibility, debt, Divorce, girlfriend, help, Love, Marriage, Money, new, questions | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 24, 2007 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
Axioms (observations that are almost always true) for families:
A man or woman who has an open, friendly, respectful, and playful relationship with his or her own parents will seldom have problems with his or her in-laws.
Extra-marital affairs are symptoms of a troubled marriage and not the cause of trouble in a marriage.
The teenager who is [...]
Filed under: Affairs, Anger, Attraction, Authentic love, Boundaries, Cheating, Children, Coaching, Communication, Community, Compatibility, Control issues, Dads, Dating, Domination, Double standards, Education, Faith, Family, Forgiveness, Friendship, Generosity, Happiness, High maintenance relationships, Interpersonal intimacy, Listening, Living together, Long distance relationships, Manipulation, Marriage and in-laws | Tagged: Affairs, disfunction, help, Relationships, sex | 2 Comments »
Posted on December 17, 2006 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
My girlfriend an I are from two very different faiths, and cultures, and race groups - but we do speak the same language! We met at work and we naturally kept our relationship quiet at first knowing that our respective families would probably disapprove of our association. After two years we have both met families on [...]
Filed under: Attraction, Authentic love, Boundaries, Dating, Differentiation, Faith, Family, Happiness, Interpersonal intimacy, Listening, Marriage, Marriage and in-laws, Personal growth, Relationships | 1 Comment »
Posted on November 30, 2006 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
“My mother-in-law spoils our children and my wife won’t tell her to stop. We have been married for seven years and I am tired of her mother interfering in our lives and especially with spoiling the children. What should I do?”
When, Sir, did you lose the ability to speak for yourself? I trust you [...]
Filed under: Children, Communication, In-laws, Marriage and in-laws, Relationships, Toxic Relationships, Voice | Tagged: In-laws, mother-in-law, son-in-law, spoiled children | 3 Comments »
Posted on August 28, 2006 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
Our loving son (23) got married two years ago and invited only my husband and me from his family. This was very hurtful. He has refused contact with his family whom he believes don’t understand his Christian faith. They live with his in-laws and his wife’s stepfather is the pastor. My husband has just recently [...]
Filed under: Communication, Community, Differentiation, Happiness, In-laws, Marriage, Marriage and in-laws, Personal growth | Tagged: Children, cut off, Family, sever ties, son | No Comments »
Posted on June 8, 2006 by Rod E. Smith, MSMFT
Q: My son lives in another country and is married to a lovely woman. They are perfectly matched. His wife’s mother started to be very unkind to me (her daughter’s mother-in-law). I can’t even tell you what she did because it was so snide and insidious. I believe her behavior has to come from jealousy. [...]
Filed under: Communication, Jealousy, Long distance relationships, Marriage and in-laws, Personal growth, Relationships | No Comments »
