Author: Jennifer S. Kennett I recently came across a poem by Wendell Barry, written for his wife entitled “The Wild Rose” which eloquently describes the unique paradox of loving someone versus being “in love” with them. Often when I work with couples who are in my office for counseling because their relationship no longer feels [...]
Author: Jennifer S. Kennett How do we stay connected in the face of our teen pushing away & pushing for more autonomy? It does seem like an odd contradiction – they want less–or nothing– to do with us, and we want to stay connected to them. It seemed much simpler when they were younger… So [...]
Author: Jennifer S. Kennett The purpose of the family meeting is to create a culture within your family of open communication and shared responsibility. The model is simple—set aside approximately one hour per week to go over family schedules, discuss interpersonal challenges, and share responsibility for planning and implementation of new ideas. The core of [...]
Author: Jennifer S. Kennett What is it about the holiday season that leaves so many people stressed and anxious? Is it the extra social commitments? The financial burden of gift-giving? For many people, it is the prospect of spending time with extended family and all the history that holds. While some of us have wonderful [...]
Author: Jennifer S. Kennett In my post on attachment parenting with teens, I talked a bit about the value of listening, and it got me thinking about the kinds of communication we use, particularly with our children. I came up with three kinds of communication—three ways in which we engage. To share or impart information [...]
