By Marisue Alsobrook
Introduction: If we’re not in control of most of our happiness and attitude, then who is? We CAN change how we think and react to life. We CANNOT always control what life gives us. Our hope, lies in our own thoughts and actions. And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, “Most people [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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
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 [...]

by Marisue Alsobrook
“Children often wish they were somewhere else.  That’s probably a common behavior in most children and even adults, but foster children have a particularly difficult time with functioning where they are at that moment.  Most of us take time for granted, moving casually from moment to moment and routinely taking care of the [...]