When I moved into a house with three complete strangers, who would leave their bags, shoes, toys, coats, gloves, balloons, papers, and garbage all over the living room and dining room, I would hyperventilate every time I arrived home to a space that looked as if it had been ransacked by robbers. It reminded me of my college days living in an apartment with a bunch of roommates who left their belongings out everywhere. Read the rest of this entry »
Acting defensive could be something a guy doesn’t realize he’s doing.” But you can expect to be treated with respect in your own home. “Dads really need to step up,” says Criswell. “Their message to the kids needs to be, ‘You can’t call the shots, but you really matter. And I want everyone to be happy. Read the rest of this entry »
When you move too fast, too soon, the kids tend to have long memories. It took years for Alex to say complimentary things about her stepmother, whom she met when she was 10. One of the most vivid memories from her childhood is what she calls Manners Boot Camp. “She was very strict. We would sit at the table to eat with my stepmother and Dad standing over us. They would watch us and critique us. They’d watch to see which forks we used or if we chewed with our mouths open.” Read the rest of this entry »
He’s got to take the lead on the parenting instead of just sitting back and letting you do it, especially in the first few years. “Dad’s got to be supportive when you decide what your role is,” says Patti Kelley Criswell, a licensed clinical social worker in Portage, Michigan. “If you say, ‘I can’t stand it—the dishes aren’t done,’ he has to be the one who says to the kids, ‘Come on, guys, let’s do the dishes.’ He has to work hard. Read the rest of this entry »
