Instead of taking the lead with giving suggestions, ask what would help more - listening (with empathy) or giving advice? If she just wants you to listen (btw - many people do!),
here's an empathy reminder: Being a mom is often selfless and draining. She's not getting a lot of practice thinking about herself. She may also have little energy to develop friendships - especially if that's not one of her strengths. Finding good friends isn't that easy and not all relationships have that much potential. That's why we often go back to family - because the blood thing really does give us a deeper connection.

Once you have listened, ask how else you can support her? Keep listening? Encourage her? Help with real barriers like child care? Be a bridge? Help her think of ideas?

If she wants ideas, first see if you can jump on any possibilities she already has. And finally, ask if she wants a few more. Only if she is receptive take the lead.

Pose your suggestions as questions. Here are a variety of ideas to choose from (but only offer a few): What about Susy from down the block? A part-time job? Volunteering at...? Going back to school? Taking classes? Joining or starting a book club? Places where you share common interests - like church, hobby classes, kids' activities or virtual communities? How about taking a few days to visit family or plan a sisters' get-away without kids?

AND...eh...I know you work a lot but is there something YOU could do to fill the void? Perhaps she married you because she wants to spend time with you as well? A regular date night might help her feel more cared about or joining something together might help.

If you feel her resistance coming back - stop. This might be where you kindly challenge her to decide if she wants things to change and possibly point out how she gets in her own way. "OK you say you want things to be different but you don't do much to change things." Or "I'm trying to help and now you're yelling at me."

She may be stuck in complain mode and need to be challenged. She might also be depressed. If you suspect this, KINDLY suggest that she talk to someone - family member, priest, therapist. It is possible that beneath this complaint, your wife feels lost. What is her purpose? What does she have to look forward to? What is she engaged in that makes her feel valued, cared about, creative, and challenged? (Folding laundry doesn't count.)

Do you want to offer advice or bring up a touchy relationship topic to someone you care about? If so, are you good at giving advice?

Everyone can use a little support - as long as it is done well. Here are some questions to ponder before you decide to help someone with some issue, challenge or problem.

1. How good are your boundaries and what is your agenda? Being honest (nobody's looking right now) - Are you a buttinski? Do you sometimes get carried away with other people's challenges and then feel compelled to try to fix them? Do you need to help? Do you see yourself as an expert who has all the answers? (If so - you will want to make sure that you are practice good stuff - including not being righteous and judgmental - before you try to help others.) That is not to say that if you are any of those things - you can't be helpful, however having good boundaries is the best ingredient in good helpfulness. So if you are genuine, have good boundaries and are truly concerned about your friend's happiness - I say give it a shot by asking permission first. In your own words, say something like: "Can I ask you about the other night?"

2. Do you understand relationships? Are you the type of person that understands that relationships - especially intimate ones - are never as simple as what we see from the outside? Are you making assumptions about what this one evening meant? Being TOO much on her side - is not really being on her side if this relationship is important to her. If you want to help - you need to go in with an open mind and appreciate that relationships have lots of pieces to them and that from the outside you will never really know what they are. Asking: "It looks like you two weren't getting along too well. What was up?" might be a good place to start.

Note: Where she takes it from there, and how good you are at playing the support role will determine what happens next.  This opening will likely give you one of three answers: A minimizer statement designed to shut the conversation down: "Oh - it was no big deal." A maximizer statement (be prepared for venting): "I am so sick of [insert name or put-down here]." Or a moderate response: "Yeah, we weren't really having a good night." So where do you take it from there? I recommend using the ETC approach: Empathize Then (not But) Challenge. "Couples fight sometimes. I was just concerned because you didn't seem to be happy with each other." Then shhhhh - and see where she wants to go from there.

If you bring optimism and maybe even some ideas - later on in the conversation - it can be a great gift."

The other day, my son and I were walking through our neighborhood and came upon a challenging stretch of sidewalk. This section had an encroaching row of hedges on one side and a thriving, tall flower bed on the other. My son is in a wheelchair and some of the flowers were sagging over just at the height of his face. Unfortunately, I was behind him pushing, and he isn't good at raising his arms. Add to this the fact that the bees were clearly in love with these blossoms and were everywhere. It was narrow and bumpy and hot and I found myself getting annoyed and felt a gripe coming on.

Dear Annie,

---

Dear Old School Dad,

Thank you so much for your insights, comments and questions. I think you make some very valid points about parenting and have some reasonable concerns about what is happening today. I am not sure I can address them all, but I do have some thoughts to offer.

First let me respond to your question: 

Why do parents come to someone like me to figure out how to parent?

Parents come to people like me because they are looking for support, a reality check, validation that they are doing a decent job, and ideas on how to respond to the unchartered challenges of parenting today. I also find that, while you were fortunate to have had an upbringing that worked for you, not all adults would say the same. Wanting to avoid what they consider missteps or damaging legacies from their own upbringing, they come looking for alternatives.

Now what about kids today? I hear ya! While there were certainly downsides to the 'old school' parenting styles - there was a strong insistence on manners and respectful talk to authorities. The only downside I see is that the method to getting such good results - for many parents - relied heavily on physical punishment, shame, embarrassing and demeaning consequences, belittling, abusiveness, guilt-tripping, and withdrawal of support and love. And while I agree that results are important, I am also concerned by the damage done by the methods.

I think that in trying to counter the downsides to 'old school' parenting, the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction.

Just Right Parenting: So how to get it just right? Let's first talk about parenting styles. Generally, there are 4 styles that can be seen in parenting. They are: Permissive, Authoritative, Authoritarian, and Non-Involved.

These styles have varying combinations of 'responsiveness' (or regard for child) and 'demandingness' (or expectations of child). Some parents - especially those who had good models and good support for their parenting - balance these well. Authoritarian is TOO HARD, Permissive is TOO SOFT, while Authoritative is JUST RIGHT. (Click here for more indepth information - Baumrind, 1991).

Now I don't know you or your parents, but I suspect they found a decent balance and that is why you turned out the way you did.

Of course I can go on about the nuances of all of these parenting styles. Like the fact that Uninvolved parenting is still balanced! Just not a good idea. And the fact that it is more challenging to get respectful children without the use of strong punishments and shame - but again - the costs... I also see too many parents abdicating their parental power to their children - (and frankly I do want to ask - What are you doing?) and help them reclaim their power without creating power-crazy parents.

So these are some of my many thoughts. I am very grateful that you took the time to put your questions out there. I hope my responses are of some value.

Take care, Annie

With some variation here's how married life often happens. You meet the person of your dreams. You fall in love, get married, set up a home and possibly add some children. But then what?

Life gets busy. Kids, job requirements, house maintenance, individual hobbies, outside friendships and extended family obligations all take a piece of the pie. Our committed relationships get pushed further and further down the priorities list and before you know it, there is no more pie.

More commonly, women notice first (not always in a kind way!) with men for various reasons leaning toward a minimizer approach to a couple's issues. In many couples, this combination can become extreme with more yelling matches about who ate the last piece interspersed with days of silence or bare tolerance of the hunger. Weeks turn into months, turn into years. As a couple feels increasingly helpless and the results of long-term hunger pile up, escape to forage elsewhere or to just focus on your own needs may feel like a matter of survival.

Not a pretty picture but remember it didn't start out this way. So let's back it up a bit.

John Gottman, a researcher and marriage expert has identified 7 crucial ingredients necessary to have and sustain a good couple relationship. One ingredient that seems intriguing is that couples in positive relationships make and take opportunities to turn toward each other. What that means is that they develop a rhythm of connection for daily tasks, sharing good news, venting about external stresses and leaning on each other when life is tough.

In Gottman's book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert, #4 is Turning Toward Each Other. Gottman offers a list of ideas for those who may need some suggestions but whatever you do it is the together that is the key. Getting support when there is outside stress and a partner to share you good moments with reminds you that your mate is a keeper.

Date nights, daily stress debriefings, even going to a funeral together can remind you of your love. While the busy couple may divvy up the chores thinking this is the most prudent use of time, multitasking for the relationship might be a better idea. I know of a couple with a great solution - they do their food shopping together. After seeing them together several times I finally asked the woman what was up and she said, 'It's just something we do. We're so busy so we use shopping to find time to talk about our days, what we want to eat, plans that are coming up.' Brilliant!

I know another couple who took a dance class together. This was a wife who was feeling like her marriage was dying a slow death. But the class helped her get a fresh image of her husband. They laughed, got exercise and met other couples investing in their relationships. And while one class can't be the end of it, it got the ball rolling.

The challenge is often in finding the energy to move in this direction. Women, by far majority, instigate much of the connection in a relationship. And as long as both partners feel good about this dynamic this can work fine. However, often it becomes a power struggle filled with resentment. Women can begin to feel resentful of the burden of being responsible for the relationship while men may resist because they feel controlled. This brings up Gottman's Principle #5 which is also very interesting: Let Your Partner Influence You. Are you open to your partner's ideas, suggestions, needs? If not, marriage just got harder.

And while Gottman states that both parties can struggle with this, he notes that men are much more likely to have trouble in this area. Often when I discuss some of the strategies used in positive relationships women complain that their partners would never do many of these. So husbands may really need to explore this one. What does allowing your partner to influence you mean? Can you find a way to be more open?

Of course this is not just an article to challenge men. One reason a husband may resist is because of HOW his partner tries to influence him. Gottman also talks about Soft versus Harsh Start-Ups and their different effects on relationships. Criticism and shame, anger and put downs will not help, and need to be reconsidered. YOU are responsible for what comes out of your mouth. So if this is an issue for you, work on being more kind and even appreciating your partner! Remember each partner, in every interaction chooses the direction of the couple's energy.

Obviously there is more to marriage than spending time together. Handling conflict well, treating each other with respect and making yourself someone that your mate wants to spend time with are pretty important too.

Bottom line is this. If you want a strong, positive relationship you need to invest in it. So if you don't want your marriage to be about coming apart then consider making it be about coming together. One suggestion? Bake a pie together...and start at the supermarket.

Annie Zirkel, LPC is a Relationship Consultant based in Ann Arbor, Mi and appreciates how challenging couplehood is. Contact her at annie@practicehow.com

 

For those of you who don’t know, Diane Rehm hosts a show on NPR. According to the WAMU website: "For more than 25 years, The Diane Rehm Show has offered listeners thoughtful and lively conversations on an array of topics with many of the most distinguished people of our times."

Now before you get too excited and to set the record straight, I wasn’t almost on the show as a guest, I was almost on the show as a caller. Actually, technically, I was on the show but let me get to that.

The guest of the day was Greg Mortenson, author of 3 Cups of Tea and person of amazing commitment and perseverance. His story involves getting lost in the Himalayans, finding a remote village and eventually building schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Unexpectedly, Mr. Mortenson was late to the show so Diane, as I call her, asked listeners who had read the book to call in to chat.

I redialed the show’s number more than a dozen times before I got a person who asked me to explain why I should be on the show. I told her that my book club had read the book and it had stirred some interesting and varying reactions. The screener decided on the spot that that warranted a moment of fame and put me on hold to wait my turn. I waited in my car, in the parking lot of the Reuse Center on Industrial Rd. in Ann Arbor.

As the show progressed, Diane continued to work her way through the callers. Each time she went to the phones she announced her intentions and let all the listeners know who and where the call was coming from. For a nerve racking half an hour I heard, ‘So let’s go to the phones, we have...’ (a pounding heart...) ‘so and so from some state other than Michigan, go ahead so and so, you’re on the air...’

I listened to the show on my phone as I waited. It was a good show. Greg, as I would have called him if I had gotten the chance, finally arrived about 20 minutes later and told his story about some of his successes and challenges and about some of the threats he’d received - surprisingly from his own country.

 

As I listened to the sometimes interesting, sometimes not, comments, I contemplated what brilliant things I was going to say if I had my chance. The screener had warned me not to delay with thanking Diane or gushing about being on the air - just get right to the point - but while I thought I had one - I wasn’t sure what was actually going to come out of my mouth if and when I got my turn.

 

Then my phone battery started chiming in with an occasional beep to let me know of its own concerns. Feeling fidgety and not sure of proper protocol for waiting to get on the air, I actually walked around the Reuse Center with my phone, listening to the show. That was pretty cool because obviously no one knew that I wasn’t just an obnoxious person walking around with her cell phone but that I was actually a grandiose person on hold for Diane Rehm walking around with her cell phone.

With about 10 minutes left of the program, I returned to my car.

Now my phone was getting rather demanding. With no charger in the car and being too far from home I decided to wait it out even though I hadn’t thought out my clever contributions to international diplomacy or what would happen if my battery died while actually speaking to Diane and Greg.

And then it happened. There was Diane going to the phones and me hearing “Annie” and “Ann Arbor” and “Good morning Annie. You’re on the air.’ And this is where I think I possibly blacked out for a minute.

Luckily a somewhat surprised friend was listening from her home and later filled me in on my whereabouts. Turns out I fairly reasonably got out, “Hi Diane, so we read this book for our book club and there were a variety of reactions.” On my end I heard a BEEP and the line went dead. On the air, Diane was apparently equally distraught and ‘so sorry’ she lost me, though given her professionalism she didn’t miss a beat and went on with the show.

As I came to, I looked around the gray parking lot for some acknowledgement of what just happened and what almost just happened. Nothing. No sign of anything other than some people dropping off discarded household items and some other people picking them up.

But I decided that whether I had or whether I hadn’t gotten my few minutes of fame, the world would have looked pretty much the same. Because unlike Mr. Mortenson, I was only going to talk about changing the world, he was actually doing something about it.

 

Annie Zirkel is a Relationship Consultant and NPR listener based in Ann Arbor, Mi. You can reach her at annie@practicehow.com

Note: This article first appeared in A Different Path newsletter in 2002. It is one of my favorite pieces because it speaks to the challenges of grief when it is not as clear cut as sadness from an actual death. Loss is tricky...

Recently, as I sorted the regular pieces of mail with its usual mixture of bills, catalogs and credit card offers, I was caught off-guard by an application from the town sports league inviting my 11 year old son to join a youth basketball team.

Sometimes when things like this happen I can just shrug them off, understanding that his name was just on a list like all the 5th grade boys in town. But other times it knocks me over. And the awareness that he is so not like other 5th grade boys brings me to tears.

The concept of grief is not as clear as it once seemed to me. Once upon a time I figured that it was what you experienced when someone you cared about died. But having a child with severe disabilities makes the potential for grief a daily possibility as we are continuously reminded of what will never be.

I could grieve constantly.

I could cry from the overwhelming emotions that consume my heart when the mother of a 3 year old complains about toilet-training - a complaint I would give a huge sum for. I could fall apart from the ignorant stares and the ignorant comments of blissfully ignorant strangers - and friends - and family. I could really torture myself at Halloween by bringing him treat-or-treating and crumbling as yet another awkward homeowner waits for him to offer his basket - smile with the facade that he just might - knowing deep down that he never will - (and by the way he can't even chew your candy anyway). I could easily grieve at the growing awareness that old friends don't invite us over any more as their lives have grown up with their ever-developing typical children.

I could grieve most of the time - but I don't. In the last 11 years, I have learned to hide my grief as much as possible. It turns out that grief scares people - myself included. Of course the downside is that people - myself included - think that I am stronger than I am and don't always offer support - or in my case, ask for it. It's a real catch-22.

I have found a need to protect myself from grief. When your live with loss on a daily basis, it is mostly a draining and futile endeavor. Being on guard is an essential survival strategy - most of the time. Without this ability to shut down my grief it could easily consume me. I have seen it consume others. Anger, resentment, self-pity - all of these can take hold if grief is not contained. So I work to contain it. But sometimes it slips out anyway. Usually among the seemingly mundane tasks of life - like opening the mail.

Besides this life lesson, I have also learned something as equally important to my survival. The other truth is that there must be times when my grief takes me over. It is essential that sometimes I let down my guard and acknowledge and contemplate the loss - in our case the loss of a perfectly healthy baby boy that never got born and will never play basketball or most of the other things that healthy boys do.

Sometimes this is done privately. Sometimes it helps to have a friend. Generous people ask me, ‘Can I help?’ But the truth is that unless they come to my house and physically give me a hand, they are pretty much on the sidelines of our circumstances.

However, on occasion, if they are the right person (strong and quiet are requirements) and they are there at the right time - there is something extremely valuable that they can do. They can hold me up while I put down my guard and grieve.

Only certain people can do this well. Some people feel the need to try to make it better, or point out how lucky I really am, or try to convince me that my life will get easier. Some people talk of God's plan which - while that may help some people - does not help me. Some people end up needing ME to make THEM feel better about MY life. They can't handle MY reality - so I let them off the hook and put the guard back up.

But when I find that strong person and they offer to shoulder the weight for a minute, I am truly appreciative. There I stand - grief exposed, heaving, crying, raging, maybe a quick wallow in self-pity - as I rail against a letter that came in the mail, and, just for a few minutes, I indulge my grief.

Curiously, usually, before I know it, I'm done. I acknowledge that it was just a mistake, that this ignorant, mundane letter did not know that it would hurt me so. The guard goes back up and to all the world I look like a normal person again - for now...

Over the years, I have learned that there will always be mundane moments that catch me. Because you can't ignore grief all the time. But I know that I can survive these moments. The truth is that a lot of my life is pervaded by joy. Not just because I don't allow grief to consume me but because sometimes I let it do just that. And somehow - in that dance of grief and ungrief - I find a way to carry on.

A million Christmases ago, when my now-teenagers were little, besides the special wishlist items we put under the tree, I added a fairly simple gift of my own. I gave each of my sons a coupon for a 45 minute block of one-on-one time with me each week.

I don't recall thinking that this was THE gift, but I hoped it would help me carve out time to give each of my very different children what they needed.

On Christmas Day, the scrolled-up coupons were quickly discarded for the shinier, more exciting gifts. But a week later, among the have-to-have presents now casually scattered around the room, my one son found a scroll and asked about it. Right then, I took out a calendar and wrote each of their names on designated days and times for the month of January, and we began our experiment.

Dear Annie,

My daughter and son (48 and 56 respectively) do not get along. She refuses to be in his presence, won't enter his house if he's there, nor will she ask him to her house. He is the same towards her.

 

For years we have tried to think through the personal histories that have harassed them in many ways, including their interpersonal problems. I've tried, to discuss some of this with each of them, with little apparent success. My parenting part in their woes I have apologized for, but I can't go back in history and change things. They say they don't blame my single parenting, but that may or may not be true.

I love them both and this falling out is breaking my heart. Any advice?
- Still My Children

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Dear Still My Children,

I wish I had a magic wand answer for you. Even when children are young and fight, parents can feel like they have little power to make them 'get along'. Building bonds that last a life time is challenging. And while it's natural to feel guilt, you are right in that you can't go back and change it. Your children have to make their own choices moving forward. Making peace with the fact that you did the best you could is your journey.

Given that their personal and interpersonal histories were not more positive it's tricky. Though time can heal physical wounds, emotional wounds don't play by the same rules. Time either helps ease tensions or allows unresolved resentments to establish a frosty status quo.

Luckily, as long as the falling out was not due to a truly unforgivable act, there is hope. What is needed is a change of heart. And there are several ways that that can be achieved.

Forces of Fate. Someone gets married or has a child, someone connected to both siblings gets seriously ill or dies. At these times, people have an opportunity to rethink which grudges are important to hold on to and which ones they are willing to let go of. Sometimes, fate hands one party such a blow that the other person buries the hatchet as an act of kindness.

Growth and Wisdom. As we get older we can sometimes admit our own contributions to conflict, learn forgiveness of others, and find a deeper appreciation for family and the ties that bind. This kind of growth can trigger a change in attitude and interaction style that indicates a desire for a new chapter. It can even prompt a more active response - such as a heart-to-heart conversation or a deeply felt letter.

Third Party Intervention. Sometimes people need a bridge. Having an outside person working either directly or indirectly to mediate can help begin to repair the bond. The advantage of a credible third party is that they can validate each side and work to negotiate a softening. Of course it doesn't always work, and there is some risk of being seen as taking sides so this is a challenging role to play. But someone who is respected, who is willing to risk it, who has good personal boundaries and the ability to be both empathetic and challenging can be valuable. A trusted parent, relative or friend, or even a professional may be the right person.

You can always ask, as a favor to you, that they at least try to be bigger than they are right now. Maybe even take a risk to appreciate the other's strengths instead of just focusing on their weaknesses. It may be worth it to remind them of any of the better history that they share, moments they survived together, and the importance of family and forgiveness. (Of course modeling that with your own forgiveness may show the way.) I don't know if your children can manage it right now, but it may be worth a try.

I hope that gives you some clarity, ideas and maybe a little hope. I'm sending wishes for a change of heart and a new direction for your family so that you can enjoy the years to come together.

Please take care, Annie

Annie Zirkel, LPC is a relationship consultant in Ann Arbor, Mi. You can find her at www.practicehow.com. Submit your relationship question to annie@practicehow.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Creative Commons License photo credit: le vent le cri

Dear Annie,

I am writing to you because of a situation that happened this summer that has created such resentment in me that I can't shake it. My husband and I have been married for 25 years and have four children, two with disabilities under the age of 10, a 21 year old who has bipolar disorder and a 17 year old who is very quiet, but otherwise fine.

Of course the big excuse is that his dad has a mental illness, but I just can't get past the hurt that my husband didn't have my back. It's bad enough he said nothing to defend me, but to not say anything after the malicious thing said about our children, is a huge blow.

On the outside I got over it right away, but there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about it and resent my husband for not saying something. Why couldn't he just say 'don't you ever talk to my wife like that and don't you dare every call my kids names ever again or you will not be welcome here'.

Can you tell me how to knock this scene out of my head so it will stop playing over and over again every single day. - Stuck on Resentment

---

Dear Stuck on Resentment,

First of all, I want to extend my empathy. Even with fabulous support, the challenges that you and your family face are tough. Adding this kind of insult to the mix is too much and it is understandable that you would want your husband to stand up and say so.

So let's talk about the resentment.

The first task in dealing with resentment is to make sure you've pinpointed the real source. Either on your own, with your husband from the start, or with a trusted friend or therapist - find out what's at the core. If it really is only about this one incident then it is much more resolvable because it is contained. If it involves some deeper stuff - a history of not having your back, other hurts involving the kids and their disabilities, etc. - then it can still be resolved but it will likely take more time and effort.

If you didn't do this already, bring your husband into the loop. You say that, "on the outside you got over it right away." Does he even know that you have resentment? He may actually believe you are fine with the situation especially if his coping strategy for dealing with his dad is to just ignore his erratic mood swings. A lifetime of protecting himself from the effects of this disorder may have shutdown his ability to appreciate that this situation went too far.

Communicate with him and don't wait too long because while some wounds heal on their own, wounds like these tend to get infected, causing all kinds of damage and spreading to the rest of the relationship. Whether by writing him a letter or talking directly, speaking about your experience and asking him to validate that, is where you need to start.

If you can, make room for your husband's side. A relationship is about 2 people so there needs to be room for both. Resentment tends to narrow our focus to what we are angry at and can cause us to lose sight of the whole person.

Can you balance this incident with your husband's strengths? Does he have your back in other areas or other ways? Also, allowing that he too likely has his own, possibly deep, issues to deal with can make way for some forgiveness. Has he (and you) ever worked through the guilt and grief that often accompanies the experiences of having a child (and in your case children) with special needs? Has he ever dealt with how his father's own disability impacted his life - and still does?

Finally, consider what would help you deal with your resentment. What might help counter the hurt? Validation that he understands? An apology for not standing up? A belated response to his dad? An agreement to limit time with your father-in-law or to deal with this as a team in the future? The more clearly you appreciate what would help you, the easier it will be to ask for it.

To 'get this out of your head' you will need a change of heart. Start with compassion for yourself and your children. Asking your husband to validate you (with compassion) and make some amends takes it to the next level and may help you remember your compassion toward him as well.

It takes courage to deal with resentment head on instead of letting it infect you and your marriage. I hope this gives you a place to start. Let me know if you have more questions.

Good luck and take care,
Annie

Annie Zirkel, LPC is a Relationship Consultant based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She can be reached at (and questions can be submitted to) annie@practicehow.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it