Families are Forever

A parent's responsibility is to attend to the needs of their child. In doing this, they must be willing to sacrifice their own desires in order to best help them in where they are at. How can we better understand and recognize the needs of children though? Needs manifest through behaviors. When a child is lashing out, there is always a reason behind it caused by some unmet need that needs to be addressed. This is why simply trying to stomp out or bribe a behavior out of a child won't actually fix the problem. Below I will name the main needs that most children have that can result in undesirable behaviors. Then, I will include what approach parents can take to address the need. 1. Contact with others/belonging This need asserts that children need to feel connected to others. This can mean receiving physical touch, conversation, inclusion, and so on. This is basically the feeling of belonging that comes when others give you attention, When this need is not met, it can result in ...

 The role of a father has been idealized for years upon years until more recently as society has pushed for women's rights. Though women should undoubtedly have equal opportunities and be treated with equal respect, it has begun to crush the role of a father. It has become more and more common for fathers to be less involved with their children and families. Is this really so bad though? Let look at some data. In "Fathers’ Roles in the Care and Development of Their Children: The Role of Pediatricians", Michael Yogman discusses the different roles fathers play in their family unit especially regarding children. One of the first points that Yogman brings up is how a father influences the language learning of a baby. The research suggests that mothers have a tendency to use the same words when speaking to their child whereas the father tends to use more new words. This increases the vocabulary of the child as they are beginning to learn to speak. A father's influence doe...

 There are so many different ways to prepare for and practice a healthy marriage. However, none of these methods will be quite as effective if they are not coupled with communication. You and your spouse were raised very differently. You have different interests, hopes, passions, and ways of talking. Knowing this, you can't just magically "mesh" with your partner. Being able to communicate properly takes work and practice on both sides. Communicating an idea is a process that takes a few steps. Here is a diagram of how communication may work for you or others: When we want to communicate an idea, we will encode a message to someone in the way that we know best. After that message is put out there, the other person must decode it and figure out the meaning. It seems simple enough, but how often does the receiver misunderstand the sender? When communication is not done clearly and objectively, a lot can go wrong. Let's then take a look at some ways we can make sure that...

 There are thousands of troubles, trials, and hardships that can disrupt a family and cause a crisis. These disruptions can come through:     Drug addiction     Alcoholism     Death of a loved one     Sickness     Mental illness     Infidelity     Unemployment     Divorce     Teen pregnancy     House fire        The list could honestly go on and on. The unexpected or undesired changes that pop up in homes can be extremely difficult to deal with. However, some families cope with problems better than others. Why is this?      Before we can consider how to cope effectively though, we must consider what negative coping methods there are as well. There are many ways to react poorly to an undesirable situation, but here are a few of the common ways people do it.     1. Denial      Oftentimes, people will get into this mi...

 I never buy snacks and this is why. If I get chips or crackers or candy or any assortment of sweets, I will eat all of them faster than any other food in my cupboard. When I get them, they sit there, taunting. They're on my mind often and the temptation to eat them is very great. Occasionally, I'll feel "snackish" and I'll go open my cupboard. Sometimes I'll be strong and grab something healthy. Other times, I give in. What do you think is the best solution for someone like me who doesn't want to eat candy or junk food on a regular basis? There are many solutions, but perhaps the most effective one is not buying snacks altogether. I want to talk a little bit about how to keep fidelity in a relationship. Now, I must put the disclaimer out there that I have never been married, in an engagement, or even in an exclusive relationship. That being said, I have done much research and have made numerous of my own observations as well as listened to the observation...

According to the dictionary, a contract is “a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy that is intended to be enforceable by law.” By this definition, a contract for marriage almost seems too much like a business deal and not enough about love. However, sometimes, a type of contract is needed for a successful marriage. There are three types of contracts I would like to go over in terms of marriage: The first contract is called a prenuptial agreement. This is a legal document that is created prior to a wedding that protects and divvies out assets, determines how debts will be paid, and chooses which insurance coverage to have. It is a practical contract to have to protect both individuals in case of a divorce or even in the event of death. The second contract is very similar. It is called a postnuptial agreement. This contract, however, is created after the couple is married. It protects and divides assets in case of divorce or untimely ...