A few years ago, I slammed into the Empty Nest Syndrome at warp speed.I knew it was coming, I had taught classes about it. Ha! I knew nothing. Life has a way of humbling us. I was ignorant. Knowing what to do, is not the same as doing what you know.
After retiring from foster [...]

By Marisue Alsobrook
Introduction:  Some of life’s most important links are built during Family Meetings. Family Meetings can help you link together as a family, improving your relationship with each other in the short term and perhaps for life.
However, the meetings are not easy, in fact, sometimes you might feel as though it’s just too chaotic. [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook
Introduction:  Teaching kids to set goals helps them see the progress they make and where they need to improve.  Self-evaluation also helps us be less sensitive to criticism; we are more able to see it as direction.  Just as using a road map to reach a destination, setting personal goals pushes us closer to [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook 
I’ve got the blues.  What do you do when you’ve got the blues?  I’ve got a lot of ideas about what to do, but the trouble  is, when you have the blues, you don’t want to do what you should do.  
Depression
When the blues have you down, it’s hard to climb up.  The [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook 
“If I had to give one single piece of advice about how to change kids’ behaviaors in the home, the Family Meeting would be number one.  I tested on over 250+ foster kids and 3 of my own.  My husband, now that it’s just the two of us, still have Family Meetings. 
Do you [...]

We all need stronger relationships; especially now when friends and loved ones will be needing to bond together and even share homes at times if financial disaster hits. Can you get along? Read tips about strenthening family ties.

 by Marisue Alsobrook
Communicating with Teens
“Communicating with teens is the most important part of staying close to them during their critical years.  However, talking to teens can, at times, seem impossible on a good day.  If teens are troubled, conversation becomes practically non-existent, yet that’s when they need it the most.  But, how do we [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook 
Empty Nest 
“I don’t like that term, but that’s where I find myself.  Most of my adult life was spent learning to be a parent and now that I kind of know what I’m doing, I’m out of the job.” 
Life After Kids 
“Where are the kids?” I ask you.  Out terrorizing the neighborhood, using what [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook 
Parenting Road Maps
Introduction:  Starting off on a road trip with no map or destination can sometimes lead to fun.  However, applying that same strategy to parenting could get us lost. So where do we go for Parent Help?
Parent Help 
Parenting books can help, but you’ve got to apply what you read and ddevelop a parenting plan.  [...]