Q: We are looking for that magic word that is going to help our family to get along with each other a little better. A: The key to success in any relationship is respect. If those sharing powerful moments of intimacy base their commitments to each other on respect, the incidence of interpersonal abuse would […] Read more
Tag Archives Speaking of Life column
Desire for dopamine leads down rocky addiction road
Q: Our youngest daughter graduated from a drug rehabilitation program two years ago. She was and is recovering from a cocaine addiction. She has done really well since then and has rebuilt a great life for herself and her daughter. We are proud. But we also have concern. Of late, our daughter has suggested having […] Read more
Gossip difficult to ignore
Q: My girlfriend, who moved from the city to live with me on the farm, has become the target of vicious gossip. How do we make it stop? A: This will be disappointing to you but the bottom line is that your best bet is to do nothing about the gossip. If you or your […] Read more
Finding love in middle age is difficult but not impossible
Q: I have been very lonely since my former wife and I split up. I want a new relationship but lack the enthusiasm to find someone new. I also fear that once again I will be hurt and disappointed. What I can do to find “someone to love?” A: I am not sure I can […] Read more
Funerals help us accept the reality of a loved one’s death
Q: Funerals can be wonderful celebrations of life but they rarely do much to ease the grief. Why do we bother with them? A: There are no shortcuts to grieving. When you love someone, you cannot close the door on their death and simply carry on as you did before. Everything is different for you. […] Read more
Sobriety effort must be done for yourself and not others
Q: I’ve quit drinking and joined Alcoholics Anonymous, but how do I make amends to my children for how it has affected them? A: Fortunately for you, kids are remarkably resilient. If you continue your road to sobriety and commit yourself to responsibility around the house, you can repair your relationships with your family over […] Read more
Openness is messy
Q: My boyfriend and I have moved in with each other but find we’re arguing a lot. I thought at first this was inevitable, but my grandmother tells me she and my grandfather seldom argued. How can we be more like them? A: The odds of you getting the kind of relationship with your boyfriend […] Read more
Child’s piano lessons definitely worth the aggravation
Q: My son’s father wants him to take piano lessons. He has a keyboard in his house and has offered to buy one for my house should I agree to the piano lessons. I’m worried about the effort that will go into making sure my son actually practises between lessons and whether it will be […] Read more
Addressing sensitive issues with parents can be tricky
Q: How do I talk to my father about his bladder control problem? It’s a sensitive subject but one that needs to be addressed. A: I am not a physician. You need to get your dad to a physician as soon as you can and into a treatment program that can help him resolve this […] Read more
Gay son needs acceptance
Q: Our university-aged son has just told us he is gay and in a long-term relationship, and I’m not handling it as well as I thought I would. How do I go about learning to accept him for who he is? A: Too often families try to change the personhood of their gay children, making […] Read more
