April - 2021

Articles by Mary Jo

Relationships, Parenting, and Emotional Wellness

How Hosting a Pity Party Increases Productivity

How Hosting a Pity Party Increases Productivity

You may have grown up with parents who chided you for wallowing in your own pity party, but wallowing has taken up a new place in our vocabulary since 2020. Most people have known someone who has gotten ill, lost a job, lost a home, or lost the ability to retire. Psychologists warn us about the danger of pent-up sadness and denial, so what do we do when we reach our breaking point? Sometimes throwing yourself a pity party helps you vent your frustration, angst, and negative f

FODA: The Pandemic’s Latest Impact on Dating

FODA: The Pandemic’s Latest Impact on Dating

If you’re single and ready to date as pandemic restrictions lift, you may have developed a new anxiety. The “fear of dating again” or FODO is a very real thing. For many, the pandemic meant virtual dating with the security of being in your home behind a screen. However, with face-to-face dating, you’re exposed and constantly on the alert for symptoms of COVID-19. According to recent online dating polls, two of three respondents reported increased anxiety and stress regarding

When You Love Your Partner but Hate Their Friends

When You Love Your Partner but Hate Their Friends

It’s a magical time when you finally found someone who seems perfect for you after years of frustration with online dating or bad relationships. When they want to introduce you to their friends, it can be exhilarating and nerve-wrecking. Maybe you are hopeful about future get-togethers, vacations, and double dates. But sometimes meeting the friends can cause a sour turn in the relationship. For example, you may find your partner’s friends annoying, abrasive, shallow, or cynic

Pandemic Parental Burnout: Tips for Coping When it Happens to You

Pandemic Parental Burnout: Tips for Coping When it Happens to You

A recent survey that included 42 countries revealed that parents from the United States were among the highest populations suffering from burnout since the pandemic. With parents working from home, school closings, and the worry about grandparents getting ill, parents were left trying to do it all without social support. The biggest culprit for having burn out was the high level of individualism and self-reliance the parent reported. In the United States where individualism i

Teaching Children That Hate is Not a Love Language

Teaching Children That Hate is Not a Love Language

It’s a question every parent has reflected on at least once: “Am I a bad parent?” Parenting is tough, and sometimes we lose our patience and regret our words or actions. You wonder if you were too tough, if you could have said something better, or if you’re a good role model. A parent’s job is to teach their child love, compassion, and empathy. After all, you want your child to be polite and respectful to others. However, hate is also something that children can learn from th

Search By Category

Follow Us

Archive