Tag: do's and don'ts

There is only one first love in each of our lives. Do you remember yours? Although it may be far in the past, most of us can still feel the excitement of that first crush. We can even feel butterflies in our stomach just thinking about that special puppy love. We usually smile when thinking about it, even though it ended because it wasn’t "real" love. We file it away in our memory banks with the logical level-headedness only boring old adults can attain.

So when our children experience their first crush we recognize it as puppy love, a passing crush that most likely will end. Some of us might worry about our children getting their hopes up only to be disappointed later.

As Valentine’s Day approaches couples become more mindful of the ways in which they can show their love through caring gestures and gifts.  Flowers, cards, candy, and jewelry often communicate feelings of affection and gratitude. It's easy to acknowledge and celebrate a meaningful relationship, especially when it’s uncomplicated and fulfilling.  However, many people are in a relationship with a significant other who is grappling with some form of self-destructive behavior. This can manifest as an eating disorder, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, other kinds of addictive behaviors, or acts of self-mutilation such as cutting or burning the body. If you relate to this, you’ll understand that there can be a deeper and even desperate desire to "fix" or "change" your spouse in an attempt to help them stop their destructive behavior.