Help for Parents Coping with Divorce, Adoption, Teenager and Relationship Issues

Our schools are a huge influence on our kids. Who is the role model for your child? Who will they turn to, if they are upset? What’s going on in your house every morning before the kids leave for school? If it’s hectic and grouchy time, change it. Your kids need your love and security before they go to school.

Taking care of you so that you can be your healthiest and best and most energetic, is a very important part of parenting or being a solid partner in a loving relationship with your spouse, partner, or other family members.  If you neglect yourself, you are sending a message to others that you are not [...]

As we are raising our children, we think we’ll always remember their cute antics.  We say to ourselves “I’ll always remember this moment.”  But, when you fast forward 20 years, and see your little toddler now in college, you realize memories fade quickly.  However, it only takes a few important words or a short sentence [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook
Introduction:  Do you know people who always seem to be in a good mood, no matter what?  You think “They’re lucky!  I wish I had their life!”  But, wait.  Take a closer look.  It’s not luck.  It’s choice.  Everyone has a back story. 
Learning From Your History
During my 18 years of parenting foster kids I [...]

Marisue says:  ”Both as a teacher and foster parent, I disovered that clothing ‘makes the person’ just as my mom and grandmother used to say.  Children are very affected by their clothing  and should be given choices at an early age.  Think of your own comfortable robe, baggy t-shirt or favorite house shoes.  We all know how teens [...]

Do we need to change?  What needs to change?  Maybe we just need to change how we think about ourselves.  Where do you begin the search? It almost seems like a joke. To many, it is the real meaning of life. Over many years I’ve read many books on psychology. At one point in my [...]

Positive self talk is invaluable. Most of us feed ourselves a steady diet of negativity. Stop! Think well of yourself and your life. That’s an important step in making your relationships better. Begin with these concepts.

by Marisue Alsobrook
Troubled Teens are one of the biggest challenges in families today and even more so in foster families.  When I look back at our hardest and even worst days as a foster parent, I’m looking right into the eyes of troubled teens.  Not only are they hard to deal with, they can have a [...]

Begin Now, today! Improve kid’s behaviors by starting right in the middle of where you are! Make lists of what’s right, and begin to praise it over and over in a sincere manner. Keep your corrections of the “wrong” brief and friendly. Kid’s often think it’s “all over” and their self esteem quickly takes a nose dive over the smallest consequences. If we’re aware of that, we can make great progress with little damage to their fragile personalities when they’re young or even in their teens.