At A Loss For Weight
My experiences with weight loss programs have made me see that the focus is all on the wrong aspect of "fat".
Are Mood Swings Medical In Nature?
If someone is acting different and no significant outside stressors are apparent, I would advise the individual to go for a check-up to ensure that there is no medical reason for the change.
Calming Your Spouse
Everything with my wife is an issue. If one of our young children spills something or accidentally breaks something, she screams uncontrollably. She is always angry and moody, which terrifies the children. I try to act lovingly toward her, but after an outburst she will often find a reason to blame me for what happened.
A Family Miracle
Think of your issues this way: due to those different backgrounds, you have a "shovel" to deal with difficulties while he has a "spoon".
Maintaining Peace
Keep in mind that people sometimes distance themselves from family in order to - in their view - protect their marriage.
Persevering In Marriage
I am a 27-year-old married woman with three children. I love my husband but I’m very nervous about where our marriage is headed. The reason why I am nervous is not because we don’t care about each other, but in my heart I fear that he’s not really frum.
The Perils Of Giving Advice: A Reader Reacts
Her actions and advice told them that they didn't know how to raise their children and as a child-rearing expert, she was showing them how to do it correctly.
Restoring Proper Values To Your Marriage
How do I continue to be happy in my marriage while maintaining my inner sense of modesty? How can I relay this message to my husband without hurting him or our relationship?
Saving Your Marriage Before It’s Too Late
Make sure to keep things light when you're out together, and maximize that limited time by participating in fun and mutually enjoyable activities.
Finding Your Bashert On The Web
Dear Readers:
We often hear about the difficulties so many of our wonderful singles face in finding their basherts. Our community is always seeking new methods and initiatives to make the process of introduction easier and more efficient.
Here are two letters – the first from a woman, the second from a man – both of whom met their spouses with the help of an innovative frum dating website, ZivugZone.com.
Why Marital Therapy Often Fails
Stacy and George walked out of the marriage counselor's office angrier than when they arrived. It was their third session and this last fight over his ex-wife wasn't going away. The fifty minutes spent embroiled in a detailed account of their battle only fired up their anger – and the counselor's request to remember how much they love each other wasn't helping. It would be a week before the next session and both of them were already talking about not coming back.
A Writer’s Sensitivity
Converting to Judaism through an Orthodox rabbi is an excruciatingly difficult process, not for the faint of heart. It’s a very lonely road and nothing short of a true commitment to Torah can provide the resilience, bravery and fortitude to go through this process. Although some converts are indeed blessed with supportive, understanding families, many aren’t as lucky. And the isolation is part of the many sacrifices made to be closer to Hashem.
Freedom From Fear: Understanding Anxiety
Most people are not aware that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population).
The Perils Of Giving Advice
Tell her that you know how much effort she puts into raising her children and that you never meant to criticize her.
Desperate To Reconnect With Their Son
Dear Dr. Yael:
Unfortunately, for the last several years our beloved son (we will call him Shmuel) has become estranged from us. This occurred immediately after his wedding in Israel.
Modernity Meets Therapy: Do You Really Need to Meet Your Therapist?
The therapeutic alliance has always been about a firm connection between patient and counselor. There has always been one primary standard - physically meeting in an office setting. There might be some phone calls in between sessions or to bridge some vacation gap. But therapy has always been about a feeling of connectivity and there is no better way to do this than face-to-face.
Giving Parental Advice: Is It A Good Idea?
Dear Dr. Yael:
How do I express my opinion in an appropriate way?
There are some aspects of my sister’s parenting that I do not agree with, and feel that her methods in these areas are harming her children. I do not claim to be the best parent in the world, but I am confident that my instincts in my sister’s situation are correct.
Enjoying A Simcha To The Fullest
If all of us recognize that any oversights or unintended slights are just that, a huge step toward practicing ahavas Yisrael would be taken.
Stop Beating Yourself Up
Cindy is 43, successful, attractive, a dedicated mom, extremely caring... and she hates herself. She doesn't readily admit this, but spend a minute inside her head and you’ll discover the resounding messages revolving around negative rants – everything from "I failed" to "I should've done better." You wouldn't know it from her behavior. She's a high functioning, regular member of society.
How Fighting Harms Children
Parental conflict affects children in varying ways, depending on their age. For example, teenagers around the age of fifteen or sixteen are most likely to involve themselves in their parents’ battles. Younger children may keep their feelings hidden inside and may only show signs of depression in late childhood or early adolescence.
Meriting A Reward For Helping Parents
Dear Dr Yael:
I loved your answer to Confused Mom (“Should Children Voluntarily Help Their Parents,” August 23).
It was a bit unrealistic of the writer to expect her children to do things voluntarily for her and her husband. Even my husband, a good and loving man, does not do anything unless I ask him to, several times. I have spoken to my friends, and this seems to be the norm. This woman is blessed with an amazing marriage, but her daughter is correct: al pi halacha a child gets more sechar if he or she is asked by a parent to do something and then fulfills the request.
Combating Inappropriate Touching
Dear Dr. Yael:
I am sending my oldest son to a Pre-1A this year and am very anxious about inappropriate touching. I do not know if I should speak to my son about this and, if I choose to, I do not know what I should say. I want to protect my son from any kind of inappropriate situation, but I also do not want to scare him. My goal is for my son to have a warm and loving relationship with his rebbe.
How do I balance my wish to protect him with the desire to provide him with a successful school year?
An Anxious Mother
How Fighting Harms Children
When parents come to talk to me about a troubled child or teenager, I often find it helpful to explore whether or not their marriage is causing their teenager to be at risk.
Should Children Voluntarily Help Their Parents?
Baruch Hashem, my husband and I have a marriage in which we constantly anticipate each other's needs and usually try to help the other even before being asked. We, of course, did the same for our children.
Adults Who Were Children of Divorce: Meeting With Your Parents Today
As adults who were children of divorce know, healing does not occur through time alone. In fact, my research found that only 46% said they had a positive relationship with their fathers as adults.
Bullying And Social Invitations: A Parent’s Dilemma
Dear Dr. Yael:
Like the seven-year-old daughter of A Heartbroken Mother, last week’s letter writer, my somewhat socially awkward nine-year-old son is also being bullied.
Bullying Must End!
There is a huge difference between standing up for oneself and retaliating against others.
Coping With The Loss Of A Child
Caring gestures like a homemade, baked item, a small gift, or a card are very appreciated and leave an extra-special warm feeling - that someone with whom you are not particularly close is thinking of you. It also takes away the lonely feeling of being "failures" or "ones who are different."
The Importance Of Grandparents
Be careful to avoid arrogance by not extensively discussing the virtues of your family members to those who are prone to jealousy. This can only fuel more envy.
Active Listening And The 10 Commandments of Communication
Active listening is only one part of the marriage equation; learning what to say and what not to say is the other half. And, it’s not just about expressing your feelings, but doing it in a way that avoids hurting the other person.