Is it a sign of true friendship to ignore a friend’s flaws? Not necessarily. If someone is your friend (and, therefore, important to you), doesn’t it make sense to try and stop her from making a mistake? You can’t … Continue reading →

Old habits are hard to break. Especially when singles are looking to become couples. I have a friend who has been single for years. She is attractive, popular and in her prime. In spite of her independence and the success … Continue reading →

In these days of political squabbles where everybody seems to have an opinion, the saying, ‘Let’s just agree to disagree’ appears to be a reasonable statement. But when asked to ‘agree to disagree,’ a person can end up feeling like … Continue reading →

Couples therapy can be stressful for everyone involved. One of the questions that parents often ask me is whether it is right or wrong to stay together solely for the sake of the children. Their premise, of course, is that … Continue reading →

During counseling sessions, people sometimes say that they expected me to yell at them. Do I look THAT mean in the picture on this page? That notwithstanding, I wonder what would give rise to such an expectation, other than the … Continue reading →

Somehow, amid last week’s flurry of glitter, turkey sandwiches and stick-on bows, I still managed to get some interesting feedback on my article about giving lots of love and gifts to kids, while still requiring them to be responsible for … Continue reading →

As the dust settles in the aftermath of the gift-giving frenzy, a lot of parents might wonder if they’re spoiling their children. The typical reaction to the word ‘spoil’ is, ‘To give your child too much, or to do too … Continue reading →

We all know that the holidays can be a source of stress, including the seasonal pressure to make everything (and everybody) instantly cheerful and merry. Well, sometimes it’s just not that easy, and the timeless words, ‘I’ll be home for … Continue reading →

I love it when I hit a nerve. A few weeks ago, I responded to a reader about her compulsion to raise ‘the perfect child.’ The great majority of you who contacted me asked about the various implications of expressions … Continue reading →

There are few things more annoying in everyday conversation than a person who interrupts. Though it might seem rude, there are different kinds of interruptions, some of which, according to www.changingminds.org, might not be so bad. For example, there’s the … Continue reading →

‘The holidays are so stressful! Shopping is such a chore. Christmas starts up so early these days. It ruins all the fun!’ Many people, especially those with large families, feel pressure and anxiety at this time of year. Does it … Continue reading →

One of the many definitions of the word ‘neurotic’ is ‘an impaired mental state brought about by conflicting motivations.’ In other words, a person is experiencing strong feelings about something, some of which are in conflict with one another. And, … Continue reading →