• 3 Secrets to Turn Bah Humbug
    into the Warm Fuzzies


    I do love the holiday music, decorations, musicals, TV specials, weather, parties, and all the warm fuzzies that go with it. But I also know it is also a hectic time of year filled with pressure, unreasonable expectations, family strife and tormented memories. If you find yourself in the midst of unpleasant circumstances this season, you can still have a pleasant, memorable holiday in 2011.

  • Ask For What You Want

    Why do we not ask outright for what we want? I think it is due to embarrassment of being different, daring, or odd. Ask for what you want. Even if it’s just popcorn at the movies. What’s the worse case scenario? No??? If you don’t ask, then “no” is your answer anyway…

  • The Heat Is On

      The long hot summer….that’s what 2011 will be remembered for, hopefully by that it will be for more than just these record breaking 100+ degree days. Wouldn’t it be nice if 2011 was remembered by you and your husband as your long hot passionate summer? Well, Moms, we’ve got one month left to make [...]

  • Five Easy Steps to Ease Back Into School


    What’s it like for children to go back to school each year?

    Well, imagine the mix of emotions adults experience when going through a job change.

    Beginning another school year is very similar to starting a new position or transferring to a new company. There’s a new boss or teacher, different expectations, and a more difficult workload…

  • Does Birth Order Really Matter When Parenting?

    The topic of birth order seems to generate more questions than just about any other issue in families with more than one child. Although there is great interest in the way birth order impacts our children. It continues to be a confusing area for many parents. It creates such questions as… “Why are my children [...]

  • Not Her Type

    With summer vacation in full swing, and a vacation in my family’s near future, I decided to set my 9 year old up with her own blog. Blogs have a lot to offer that private diaries can’t provide, and the interactive potential can be healthy for kids if properly supervised. Writing about their experiences online, [...]

  • Pay It Forward

      I have been on assignment in conjunction with my college students in psychology. The nature was one of ‘Pay it Forward’ – how cliché’ right? No. This is real world, and real stories… brief, very brief history: During the holiday, ‘Christmas’ season, everyone generally behaves at their best and is most giving to, well, [...]

  • A Mom’s Survival Guide
    when Life Delivers a Tornado

    Has unexpected turmoil erupted in your home? This May brought deadly tornadoes to the mid-West including 8 tornadoes to the Dallas/Fort Worth area during the hailstorm of May 24, 2011. Life changes in an instant. We can be going along just fine then — bam — weather erupts, tornado hits and life as we know [...]

  • Emma the Crazy Three Year Old
    … Or Not

    As a child psychologist, I often work ‘by the book’ – especially in child rearing and discipline. Additionally, I have raised a 17 and 15 year old, and survived – still with blonde hair… (Well, with the help of my salon). The point is, I am licensed, and have the ‘skills’ necessary to keep my [...]

  • Keeping Your Family Close…
    By Jessica Begley

    By Jessica L. Begley, MFT Keeping Your Family Close…The Ties That Bind Are Not Wireless Interactive innovations are seemingly in endless supply. With the widespread success and use of iPads, Blackberries, iTouches, texting, gaming and social networking, children and adults are simply a touch screen or click away from their friends and family; however, is [...]