Relationships & Family

Holiday Help

admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:05:00 -0600

Q: My brother's bringing his Jewish fiancée to my Christmas party. Another couple is Buddhist. Friends from our church are coming. Can I honor my traditions without dissing anyone else's?

Custom Made

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:54:00 -0500

The holidays are full of traditions—about what we do, eat, say, pray, smell, wear, sing—handed down from years, even centuries ago. Some families go to church, others go caroling; some open gifts Christmas Eve, others Christmas Day; some use fresh cranberries, others use canned. As children, we adopted our parents' customs. But our adult lives sometimes require new rituals. You might need to adapt for a spouse who comes from a different faith or ethnic background, a new child, divorce or remarriage. Try these ideas for making new traditions rich in both meaning and joy.

It's Still a Wonderful Life

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:16:50 -0600

We see it on television every Christmas: a movie that continues to be a favorite from generation to generation.

And as It's A Wonderful Life nears its climax, there's a scene that always gives me a shiver. Because I know the story behind it.

"Take Me Home"

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:51:00 -0500

I brushed the bangs from my forehead and clicked "send" on an e-mail, answering a question from a fan about a character in one of my novels.

A child from Haiti. The words popped into my head like an e-mail popping into my inbox. It had been a really long day: working on my new book in the morning, taking care of family and household stuff in the afternoon, then back to my study to answer fan mail in the evening. I tried to dismiss the thought. But it wouldn't be dismissed.

Odd One Out?

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:35:01 -0600

The first hint I had of what it would be like to be a stepmother came just before my wedding. My husband, Dana, and I planned a small ceremony with a few close friends and family—walking down the aisle in this case meant taking a few steps past some rented folding chairs in Dana's living room. Naturally, I wanted his eight-year-old daughter, Cilka, to be part of the ceremony. "I'd love for you to be my flower girl," I said. "You can wear a pretty dress and carry a bouquet of violets and baby's breath."

All in the Family

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 10:22:00 -0500

This was the second marriage for both of us; Chip was a widower with three children and I had my 14-year-old son, Joey. Chip and I truly felt we'd been led to this marriage not only for ourselves but also for the kids.

All in the Family

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:24:52 -0500

I pulled into our driveway thinking about what I would make for dinner. It was Friday and I wanted the weekend to get off to a good start this time. My husband Chip and I believed dinner with the kids was important, especially in our situation. This was the second marriage for both of us; Chip was a widower with three children and I had my 14-year-old son, Joey. Chip and I truly felt we'd been led to this marriage not only for ourselves but also for the kids.

Born to Lead, Listen or Laugh?

admin — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 06:21:00 -0500

You've probably noticed that siblings, despite all they share—gene pool, upbringing, values—often turn out to be wildly different. How can kids with the same parents can have personalities as opposite as night and day. Is it nature? Is it nurture? Debate rages. But more and more, researchers are identifying birth order as one of the most important factors influencing personality.

Our Book Bond

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:41:00 -0500

I moved into my new wife Rebecca's Greenwich Village apartment back in 1994, and knew that it would take awhile before I really felt at home. Like most New York apartments, Rebecca's was small—at least by the standards of non-New Yorkers. It was also crammed full of her and her seven-year-old daughter Mara's stuff. Where, in this jumble of Fisher-Price toys, leotards, record albums and Polly Pocket lunchboxes, would I fit any of my stuff? I wondered.

Expert Advice: Love's Patience

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 06:41:00 -0500

Blending two families in a second marriage is a considerable challenge, but the possibilities are great too.

The first thing a couple in a blended family should ask themselves is, How strong is our relationship? The success of the household will depend on the strength of that relationship. It is like the hub of a wheel. Do they have a good support network? Do they have friends and family they can turn to for encouragement? Do they have a church or synagogue?