Search Results for: blog surrounding yourself with support

Blogging Your Health: Pros and Cons

The other day, I was thinking long and hard about blogging your health: what to say, how much detail to give, who gets to read your posts. It’s a tricky issue, to say the least. Let’s look at some positives and negatives. The advantages of blogging your health can include: Ease. Make one post/update to your social networking site of choice and all your friends get the news at the same time. It’s quick and easy — and that’s good at a time when you may not have a lot of time and energy to devote to keeping everybody updated. … Continue reading →

Traveling: No Support Network

I have discussed before how important a support network is; and my travels to Colorado has done nothing but reinforce my belief in that. I have known from the beginning that with out my support network has helped to keep me sane, and being some place new, with out them there with/for me, has proved that thought. So how did this trip help me grow to appreciate me support network more? When I am home, I can run to the store for whatever we need on the spur of the moment without having to drag Jonathan with me every time. … Continue reading →

Importance of Support Networks to Single Parents

One of the most important pieces in life in general, whether it’s for single parenting, homeschooling, or getting a job you want, etc., is having and using a support network. So, what is a support network? It is a group of people who can and will assist you in the adventure called life. In the case of homeschooling it’s a network of people who will help you in all aspects of homeschooling, in the case of single parenting, it’s people who will help you with all aspects of being a single parent. You could even have a different support network … Continue reading →

Surrounding Yourself with Support

As a married couple, you generally have a set group of friends. However, after going through a divorce or the death of a spouse, things change. You soon find yourself not hanging out with the same people, being alone. The most important thing is that for your sake and for the sake of your children, you need to create a new support network. In fact, many times new single parents will find they connect with other single parents from their child’s school, the neighborhood, or just through a happenstance meeting. The thing is that as a single parent a network … Continue reading →

Privacy vs. Secrecy: How to Foster Intimacy in Your Relationships

Information really is power; how, what, and when to share can have a far-reaching impact on our ability to foster intimacy in our relationships. It is almost a rite of passage, for instance, for a new couple to explore one another’s past—first loves, first kisses, and even the first big heartbreak. These conversations both require and build a significant level of trust, as they reveal how we act and react at our most vulnerable moments. So what does it mean when your partner refuses to share? It can mean many things; the problem, of course, is that we often assume … Continue reading →

We’re Broke! Why Do We Need a Financial Planner?! Part 1

After my divorce, the financial planner who had worked with my former husband and I continued to call me every six months or so, wondering if I was ready to put a new financial plan into place. I was flattered, if a little confused, about why he was bothering with me. I had primary physical custody of our infant daughter, I was receiving no financial support from her dad, and I was working for a notoriously underpaying local non-profit. Let’s face it, I was broke. The answer to the question, of course, is that it is an undisputed fact that … Continue reading →

To Leave or Not to Leave

In the early years of our marriage, the threat of leaving became our default position in a distressing number of our fights. For me, the devastation of feeling totally misunderstood, my efforts unappreciated, and my actions unfairly judged left me thinking that there was only one way out, and that way was out the door. Over the years, however, I have come to understand a few things: 1) There is hardly ever just one way out; 2) If you are truly committed to the marriage, leaving is not an option; and, 3) Control is at the root of most conflict. … Continue reading →

You’ve Gotta Have Friends

I learned a lot about support over the weekend. We held our annual walk to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in hopes of finding a cure for our daughter, Maggie. Our team, Miles for Maggie, showed up ready to go and they had raised over $8,000. It was emotional and heartwarming and I left the walk feeling warm and fuzzy. That’s what a support network of family and friends will do to you. It’s not just about their willingness to raise money, it’s about the effort they put in and the time they give to be there with … Continue reading →

Adoptions and Genealogy

If you are adopted, or there is an adoption in your family tree, you are likely to encounter some challenges in conducting genealogical research. There is quite a bit of legal red tape surrounding many modern-day adoptions, and older relatives may be unwilling to speak about adoptions because in the past, it was often considered a taboo topic of discussion. Whether you are an adoptee looking to contact your birth parents or you are just looking for information that will enable you to research your family tree, the challenges are the same. Beginning in the 1930s, the court system began … Continue reading →

More Thoughts on Invisible Illnesses

Living with an invisible illness can be a struggle. But you don’t have to suffer in silence! Here are some things experts suggest to help make life with an invisible illness a little easier. Find a support group for people with your condition — either online or in your area. Spending time with people who understand your condition can really make a difference. This is a good place to share coping techniques and life experiences. Be educated. Learn about your condition and keep up to date on studies and research. Encourage friends and loved ones to learn about the disease, … Continue reading →