Family Tips - Haiti Observer Blog

Elderly people are not as mobile and quick as they used to be, and lack the strength of a younger person. Gifts that lessen the stress of performing tasks and offering protection should be high on the list of gift givers.

The bathroom, particularly the bathtub or shower stall, is the riskiest place in the home for them. Gift them with hand rails and support bars to steady them. Add a bath or shower mat to avoid slips and falls during showering or bathing.

Elderly people's musculature weakens as they age. Sitting and standing becomes difficult, especially when using the toilet. Buy a portable raised toilet seat and toilet safety-arm rest. Similarly, buy a remote control device for their landline phone to avoid repeated efforts at standing or sitting.

Read more →  

Marrying into someone's family requires a period of adjustment. An advise to step Parenting

Family members may feel threatened by your presence in their lives, so develop a relationship with them gradually. With adult step children, begin with brief conversations about innocuous topics: the weather, a hobby, or entertainment, for example.

If they behave badly towards you, demand they treat you with respect, reminding them you are their father's choice of spouse. If they act chilly, don't personalize it. They are struggling with feelings of loyalty towards their birth parent.

Listen to them talk about themselves. It will give them a secure feeling of being accepted. Be their friend and give them space to lead their own lives.

Read more →  

Extended family relations around the holidays can become an occasion for unpleasant interactions.

Social gatherings for Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Christmas and New Year's Day dinners, can force you into uncomfortable face-offs with some members of the family. Here are some guidelines to help you deal with annoying--sometimes to the extreme--relatives.

• Be polite and respectful. Remind yourself this is the only occasion you need to see them on. You can pleasantly tolerate their presence for a few short hours.

• If you find it impossible to have a pleasant conversation, avoid them. Make your hellos and goodbyes civil though.

Read more →  

When a natural or man-made disaster hits, possible loss or destruction of property and family members' whereabouts can be traumatic. A disaster preparedness plan will insure that your family and possessions are safeguarded.

Of primary importance is family members' safety. With small children under six, get them dog tags and include names, addresses, phone numbers, and medical conditions. Place them on your child when disaster hits. For older children, have them memorize the same information.

Scout out a location where family can meet up if separated during a disaster, or if in different places when disaster hits.

Read more →  

How to keep a relationship affected by distance, marriage, separation going

Families grow up together, but inevitably marriage and careers can put great distances between parents and their children. Grandparents want to see and hear how their grandchildren are doing. And grandchildren need to know who their grandparents are, begin learning the family history, and develop relationships with their extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In the past, postal mail and long-distance telephone service have kept us connected. Now we have the Internet, email, digital cameras, and web cams to provide us with frequent opportunities to stay in touch.

Read more →  

In another way, how to avoid fighting with some family members you know will get you upset

The holidays are nearly here, and that means get-togethers with family and friends. These can be joyous occasions or oppressive ones. It all depends on how you handle the difficult personalities of immediate or extended family members. They are the ones most likely to affect your mood negatively.

It's important to understand how others' moods can affect us, especially our relatives. The principle to keep in mind when dealing with difficult personalities is you don't need to tolerate their bad behavior. By allowing their negativity to affect your mood, you subject yourself to psychological abuse and physical harm to your health. To protect and take care of yourself, be honest but don't judge them.

Read more →