building angd rebuilding the company-the tortoise and the hare story

Today was all about planning for 2010. It is hard to believe that my company, balancing life's issues, has been around for going on 9 years, but it has. So today I met a potential new client and a very good existing client. It is all about moving forward. I am so the tortoise..slow and steady. Joe Connolly was saying that it is hard to have a business that continues to do better every year...but so far so good ..we have. I listen hard and try everything and anything..including blogging. What works for you??

Divorce in the Holidays with Teens

When my children were little I thought that splitting the holidays was hard. I didn't realize that it would get weirder and harder as they got older and more independent. Now they drive and have their own lives. So, there is no custody agreement ... no piece of paper that tells them where and when to go with whom. It really is up to them and I have to accept it and move on. What have I learned is to sit down with the teens and talk to them about their expectations and wishes for this session. I do explain that they need to be firm and commit to some time with each of us. Since my ex and I do not talk they need to communicate with him as well.

Then the rest of the work is mine. I accept the path my life has taken and I examine the blessings it has given me. 3 amazing children/young adults and I cherish every second, minute, hour and day I get to have with them!!

Thanksgiving is over.. college kids are gone

The anticipation of my children coming home is over..the days zipped by and now they are back. It is the weirdest, saddest, most bizarre feeling in the world. First let me be honest I love, love, love being a mom.. it is the most fun and challenging job and passion that a person could have. I enjoy seeing what my children are capable of and the challenge of pushing them to strive for the sky. Having said that it is a bizarre worldwind when they come home. The nice clean orderly house gets in totally disarray. Food zips out of the fridge and kids come in and out and in and out....and then they are gone. Many of the clients I speak to struggle with being a parent for college age kids..they worry about curfews and feel they have lost totally control-- I tell them to be confident and listen to their own voices. I still believe that once my child always my child. In any case-- thank goodness they come home in 3 weeks!!

The Sad, Shocking Truth About How Women Are Feeling

Touche! Poor choice of words but my point is right on - as a divorced > single > remarried woman the lightbulb went off to me when I realized I had to "coach" my husband (is that a less offensive word?). It has certainly increased my pursuit of happiness when he helps me do the laundry, shopping, and cooking for 5 children, 2 adults, and 4 pets.......get the point?
About Happiness
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Sad, Shocking Truth About How Women Are Feeling

First off..why is a man writing this?!



As a work/life specialist I talk to thousands of women every month and this is all I hear: frustration and disappointment while waiting for their lives to get better.



Women have to speak up appopriately and let some stuff go!! I have trained my children and husband to help... HOW? I learned how to ask in a way that works.... Women need to re-prioritize and focus on the pursuit of happiness...



As I talk to my college-age daughter about this I hope to emphasize that happiness is up to us to pursue..we need to set the goals, dream the dreams and achieve all while remembering that it takes the skill of delegating and saying "no" to do this.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Its all about Motivation

Yesterday was Monday. I love Mondays. Diets start on Mondays, I exercise a little harder on Mondays, I am a good worker and parent on Mondays. Why? I am motivated. However, today is Tuesday and I am not so motivated.
In my work I see so many people set such wonderful goals and then stop. I believe the answer is motivation. So, I will re-wire my brain to motivate myself to eat well, go to the gym, send my husband a nice email and give my kids a great big hug.

Yeah for Tuesdays.... I am psyched!

A Terrible Mistake

Yesterday, I learned a valuable lesson that I knew but I needed to be reminded. Chaos broke out in my house because my 3 "children" are sharing a car. One took the car and was late getting back so I needed to drive one to work. Of course, there was screaming and yelling and more chaos.

As we were driving to work--still yelling at each other-- the traffic stopped and the parkway was closed.... apparently, one car had gone the wrong way on the highway and collided with 2 others. 8 people dead in 5 minutes.... 4 children

what were we arguing about?