Opposite Sex Friendships: Playing with Fire

I’ll warn you ahead of time.  You may not agree with anything I have to say in this blog.  In fact, you might think I’m living in the dark ages…but that’s okay. The issue I’m talking about today is friendships with the opposite sex.  But please understand ahead of time that I am coming at this from the angle of seeing the destruction it almost cost my marriage and the fact I have been married for 21 ½ years. My opinion is that having a friendship with someone of the opposite sex is playing with fire.  Think about how many … Continue reading

When Technology Becomes Unhealthy

Living in this world of technology, one thing I have noticed is a change in relationships.  Face-to-face interactions happen less often.  It’s easier to shoot out an email or text.  It may feel safer to have a discussion through instant messaging. Instead of talking about our feelings, we are voicing them on Facebook or Twitter.  And rather than enjoying quality time together with our friends, we sit a few feet from each other, tapping away on our devices. This can be not only unhealthy but dangerous.  I’ve seen one of my daughter’s friends fall for a guy she met online.  … Continue reading

The Internet and Homeschooling

Eight years ago, a few clicks of the mouse led me to the virtual side of homeschooling. It was a world I happily embraced. In that time, I have joined homeschool forums, developed a blog and Facebook community, contributed to group homeschool blogs, and joined efforts to enhance the online homeschool experience for parents and students. I continue to see tremendous growth in the online homeschool community. Homeschooling families are using the Internet for support, to share ideas, to find lesson plans, curriculum assessments, and keep updated on homeschool law. The Internet has provided a sense of community among homeschoolers … Continue reading

How Does Having Children Affect Friendships?

Sometimes, I worry about what having kids will do to my already nonexistent social life. I’m not whining about not being able to go out and have fun anymore. That’s just not my thing. I’m a stay-in, watch-movies, read-books, play-video-games kind-of-person. My closest friends are those who like to do the same thing. What I’m worried about is growing further apart from the friends that I do have. A lot has already been written about how important it is to preserve one’s friendships outside of our marriage. We may have (hopefully) married our best friend, or at least one of … Continue reading

Using Social Media for Weight Loss

As part of my business and as a blog owner, I am on social media all the time. All. The. Time. It is the place to be to promote your business or to keep in touch with friends and family. It is easy, convenient, and on your timeframe. It may get bad press from those who feel a more intimate form of communication is lost due to the emergence of social media, but I disagree. I think it helps connect families, friends, and network. It gives a person a wider audience and more ways to connect. In my time online, … Continue reading

Purge Toxic Friendships and Get Healthier

Having a toxic friendship can really affect your health. It can raise your stress levels and affect your self esteem, plus hit you other areas, such as financially, and drain your resources. No one wants to consider ending a friendship, but sometimes when the cost of having that relationship is too much on your health, it becomes necessary. What is a toxic friendship? If you are part of a toxic friendship, you may be spending time with a friend who takes more than she gives, focuses more on her own needs than anyone else’s, demands too much from you, or … Continue reading

Putting it Together: Blogging Tips, Part 3

Baker’s Dozen of Blogging Tips, part 3 Remove the Navigation Bar: The navbar on your blogger blog looks unprofessional. If you want to give a more polished impression remove it. Guest Posts: Guest posting on blogs is a great way to bring more exposure to your own blog. Accepting guest posts will do the same as that blogger will bring her traffic to you. It is also a great way to get to know and form friendships with other bloggers. Facebook Page: If you do not have a Facebook page for your blog then create one. I read that 1 … Continue reading

Blog Networks, Part 2

I discussed yesterday that Blog Networks are a powerful tool for bloggers. A network will provide more exposure and opportunities for your blog. You will also gain learning opportunities and friendship from those in your network. Networks should be small in number so keep it around eight to ten bloggers. Too few bloggers and you will not have an impact but too many bloggers and the network will become overwhelming to manage. Think of a core group of individuals who are likeminded and share a passion to blog and to grow. That is the concept behind a network. Starting a … Continue reading

Meaningful Friendships

I have been blessed with great friends throughout my life. When they first learned of my divorce they flocked around me to support me and get me through that difficult time in our lives. They called, sent Facebook messages, and many text messages just to check in on me and make sure I knew that they were always there if I needed anything. I was grateful to have them at a time when I felt like I had nothing else. As time went on we all got busier and busier with our lives. We all have families of their own … Continue reading

Helping Your Child Overcome Shyness

My son is naturally shy. Researchers claim that it’s a genetic trait. So in reality, my son’s shyness does not surprise me at all. As a child, I wouldn’t even play games at my friend’s birthday parties. I had an intense fear of failure and I was worried the kids wouldn’t like me. Looking back, the fears were highly irrational, but try telling that to a six year old little girl! I had a few close friends, but I didn’t branch out too much. I was well liked and very focused in school, but when it came to social settings, … Continue reading