Healthy Connections

Addiction

Are You an Enabling Parent?

Ann Smith on September 16, 2016

Parents are hardwired to love and protect their child from birth to death no matter what. What happens when parents begin to unintentionally enable their child?

Parents are hardwired to love and protect their child from birth to death no matter what. What happens when parents begin to unintentionally enable their child?

Relationships

Feathering the Empty Nest

Ann Smith on July 25, 2016

Couples who were able to maintain their connection through the child rearing years will have a smoother transition into empty nest years.

Couples who were able to maintain their connection through the child rearing years will have a smoother transition into empty nest years.

Alcoholism

Adult Children of Families With an Alcohol Use Disorder

Ann Smith on February 19, 2016

Although we cannot change the past or the people we love, healing and recovery are possible with support and guidance.

Although we cannot change the past or the people we love, healing and recovery are possible with support and guidance.

Friends

Could Your Friendships be Threatening Your Marriage?

Ann Smith on December 21, 2015

Friends are a very important part of a healthy life, but not all friends are good for your relationship. When it comes to relationship woes and advice, we may need someone special.

Friends are a very important part of a healthy life, but not all friends are good for your relationship. When it comes to relationship woes and advice, we may need someone special.

Relationships

I Love You, Don't Change!

Ann Smith on August 18, 2015

We all know that committed, close relationships are complicated and life often creates situations where change is a natural outcome and in some cases may be forced upon us. We know our loved ones will make choices and decisions we don’t agree with. Hopefully we bounce back, learn from mistakes, and then grow and move on.

We all know that committed, close relationships are complicated and life often creates situations where change is a natural outcome and in some cases may be forced upon us. We know our loved ones will make choices and decisions we don’t agree with. Hopefully we bounce back, learn from mistakes, and then grow and move on.

Codependency

What Codependency Is, and What It Isn't

Ann Smith on July 6, 2015

What was labeled in the past as "codependency" is actually human beings doing what comes naturally — loving.

What was labeled in the past as "codependency" is actually human beings doing what comes naturally — loving.

Stress

10 Tips for Easing the Stress of Transition and Change

Ann Smith on May 19, 2015

Some changes in life are forced on us. Aging is one. Other changes are the result of choices we make to better our lives or accomplish goals we have set. Either way, change is challenging and we always have a choice about how we will handle the transition.

Some changes in life are forced on us. Aging is one. Other changes are the result of choices we make to better our lives or accomplish goals we have set. Either way, change is challenging and we always have a choice about how we will handle the transition.

Relationships

Love and Love-Ability

Ann Smith on February 11, 2015

Being love-able means that I am able to be loved, able to make a conscious choice about who I want to love, and accept love when it is offered.

Being love-able means that I am able to be loved, able to make a conscious choice about who I want to love, and accept love when it is offered.

Depression

Tips for Managing Your Emotional Ups and Downs

Ann Smith on September 24, 2014

What most of us didn’t learn in childhood is that ups and downs are not always related to problems or something you did to cause them.

What most of us didn’t learn in childhood is that ups and downs are not always related to problems or something you did to cause them.

There’s currently media frenzy around Anthony Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin, deciding to stay together—but we really don’t know anything about their relationship.

Simple steps towards a more balanced life

Perfectionism

The Perils of Perfectionism in Motherhood

Ann Smith on May 9, 2013

Motherhood can bring out the perfectionist in all of us. Over the years, I have reflected in many conversations with my mother, my 3 sisters and numerous friends about how we raised our respective children. The recurring theme of our discussions was we wished we had been less uptight and more spontaneous—another way of saying we were scared stiff and worried too much.

Motherhood can bring out the perfectionist in all of us. Over the years, I have reflected in many conversations with my mother, my 3 sisters and numerous friends about how we raised our respective children. The recurring theme of our discussions was we wished we had been less uptight and more spontaneous—another way of saying we were scared stiff and worried too much.

Relationships

When Violence Demands that We Find a New Normal

Ann Smith on April 23, 2013

Like many Americans, I spent the past few days watching intensely as the ongoing coverage of the Boston terrorist attacks unfolded – culminating with the dramatic arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a family’s boat in Watertown, MA. As I did, many thoughts raced through my mind. Some thoughts were based on personal experience and others were simply a common human reaction.

Like many Americans, I spent the past few days watching intensely as the ongoing coverage of the Boston terrorist attacks unfolded – culminating with the dramatic arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a family’s boat in Watertown, MA. As I did, many thoughts raced through my mind. Some thoughts were based on personal experience and others were simply a common human reaction.

Everyone has flaws and that fact connects us with humanity. Pretending we don’t leads to isolation and at best, conditional love.

Most successful couples have found a balance between time spent together and time apart, but it is an ebb and flow that may be unique to each couple.

Relationships

Secrets to a Strong, Successful Relationship

Ann Smith on November 14, 2012

Good relationships require true commitment, good communication, mature love and lessons learned from past mistakes.

Good relationships require true commitment, good communication, mature love and lessons learned from past mistakes.

Feelings of stress and anxiety, if not properly managed, can cause damage to your personal connections. Here are 10 tips to help de-stress your relationship.

Relationships

Fatal Flaws in Celebrity Marriages

Ann Smith on August 27, 2012

Standing in a grocery line last week, I couldn’t ignore the magazine headlines with stories about celebrities and their recent relationship breakups. Since relationships are my favorite subject and career, I decided that as long as we as a culture are fascinated with what happens to celebrities, especially with romance, we might as well try to learn something from them.

Standing in a grocery line last week, I couldn’t ignore the magazine headlines with stories about celebrities and their recent relationship breakups. Since relationships are my favorite subject and career, I decided that as long as we as a culture are fascinated with what happens to celebrities, especially with romance, we might as well try to learn something from them.

Aging

Winning the Gold and Unhappy

Ann Smith on July 17, 2012

When you reach a lifelong goal it should feel great, shouldn’t it? Why is it so hard for us to pause, take a breath and feel the joy when a goal is accomplished?

When you reach a lifelong goal it should feel great, shouldn’t it? Why is it so hard for us to pause, take a breath and feel the joy when a goal is accomplished?

Friends

Remarried with Children

Ann Smith on April 25, 2012

The truth is that for all re-married (or recommitted) with children their new life isn’t only about their love for each other, but now must include love and/or acceptance for the other people their partner loves (children) and has loved (ex-partner, extended family, friends).

The truth is that for all re-married (or recommitted) with children their new life isn’t only about their love for each other, but now must include love and/or acceptance for the other people their partner loves (children) and has loved (ex-partner, extended family, friends).