Give a Daily Valentine
by Lori Sciame January 10th, 2020 | Relationships
Next gift-giving holiday? Valentine's Day! Even though most holiday lights decorating the outside of homes haven't been taken down, stores already have shelves full of Valentine's merchandise - stuffed teddy bears with big red hearts, heart shaped boxes filled with delectable chocolates, and even racy undergarments. Retailers jump on any chance to capitalize on holidays that center around gift giving. They are in business to make money; however, in our own important relationships we need to be less focused on buying love. This means we should not focus so much on particular days of the year (and
Read More
Holiday Survival Guide
by Lori Sciame November 15th, 2019 | Relationships
Soon the holiday season will be in full swing. There will be presents to buy, special treats to bake, and parties to attend. While many of the parties will be filled with good cheer and laughter, some will seem more like funeral wakes - complete with morose faces and mumbled greetings. If this sounds familiar, then take the time to read this post. Learn a few tips on how to survive a less than perfect family celebration.
Reject Emotional Blackmail
The first key to survival involves stopping emotional blackmail in its tracks. In essence, don't let yourself be bullied. For instance,
Read More
Reject Emotional Blackmail
The first key to survival involves stopping emotional blackmail in its tracks. In essence, don't let yourself be bullied. For instance,
Food Does Not Equal Love
by Lori Sciame August 23rd, 2019 | Health Observance, Relationships
Moms and dads, please take this advice to heart: food does not equal love. A candy bar given to a young child after a fall, or a banana split each day after school to celebrate another day of learning may seem harmless enough, but when food becomes a symbol of comfort and/or love to a child, then serious problems may occur.
Do you remember the stereotypical Italian mom who constantly begs her child to eat...anything and everything? Pasta, sauce, bread, meatballs, sausage...she fills the child's plate again and again. Although this example seems extreme, sadly, many parents still adhere to
Read More
Do you remember the stereotypical Italian mom who constantly begs her child to eat...anything and everything? Pasta, sauce, bread, meatballs, sausage...she fills the child's plate again and again. Although this example seems extreme, sadly, many parents still adhere to
The Relief of Letting Go
by Lori Sciame January 11th, 2019 | Relationships
Over the past few months I've realized something - letting go of a dream unfulfilled can be a huge relief. My elusive dream involved my sister-in-law. Even after knowing each other for almost ten years, we never became close. Why, I wondered, couldn't we be picture perfect confidants, those who share coffee, share stories, and ultimately, share lives? What made being friends so difficult?
And then it dawned on me. I realized that just because my brother loves her, doesn't mean that becoming "sisters" would work for us. In fact, we have completely different core values, plus we live far apart.
Read More
And then it dawned on me. I realized that just because my brother loves her, doesn't mean that becoming "sisters" would work for us. In fact, we have completely different core values, plus we live far apart.