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An important goal of any stepfamily is to develop a sense of who you are as a family. Rituals can help create this feeling of “family.” There are some simple tips to keep in mind when establishing rituals for your stepfamily.

No one likes to be alone, and that includes older adults. If you are over the age of 65 and do not have a spouse/partner who lives with you, some of the following research and tips may be helpful for you.

Over time, most families develop strengths that help them face and successfully manage difficult times. The same is true of stepfamilies. The family strengths framework, developed as a general model for success in families, is based upon research with str

Even the happiest of relationships experience conflicts and problems (Markman, Stanley, Blumberg, Jenkins & Whiteley, 2004). If handled well, issues provide opportunities for personal and relationship growth.

Communication is something we do on a regular basis. As young children we initially learn ways to communicate as we observe our parent, sibling, and family interactions. Throughout our lives our communication patterns evolve and are reinforced by our expe

Pornography is not a new issue in relationships; however, the expansion of the Internet appears to have increased pornography viewing and exacerbated pre-existing tendencies (Cooper, Boies, Maheu & Greenfield, 1999; Young, 2008). One key factor in this in

It is easy to get caught up in the events of the past or the future. However, doing so only brings worry and causes you to miss out on the present. On the other hand, mindfulness–or focusing on the present moment–leads to better health, lower anxiety, and

Couples and families often look for ways to find more time together and to make better use of that time. Most people struggle to find enough time in their day for everything. In fact, according to Dr. William Doherty (2001), those that care about each oth

Boring, drab, lifeless, stale, dull, tedious. These are probably not the words you hope to use to describe your relationships. How about well planned, frugal, precise, productive, serious, busy? Though these can be characteristics of a strong, healthy rel

Conflicts are a natural part of human interaction. Whenever two or more people are in the same environment for a long enough period of time, it is inevitable that conflict will occur. However, the conflict itself is not the problem, but rather how they ch

The process of building and maintaining a strong remarriage is complicated by many factors. One of the most complex factors is the relationship with the biological parent of your child(ren). Interactions with past partners have the potential to be very po

Anger is a strong emotion that often leads to negative coping strategies. Indications of anger in children often include kicking, hitting, clenched fists, and a reddened face. Withdrawal, anxiety, and depression can also be indicators of anger.

Strengthen your marriage relationship by making the first ten minutes of your interactions together a positive experience. Learn how to have stress-reducing conversation, emotionally support each other, and sooth self and partner in positive communication

Everyone feels stress daily in multiple ways. Relationships, work, holidays, tragedy, special events, school, housework, and traffic are just some of the many stressors we experience at some point. Stressors may not always be easy to identify, but they ar

Having commitment means being dedicated to a cause. Commitment comes in all different shapes and sizes, but the most important type of commitment, for many, is a commitment to your marriage. Often couples start their marriage with commitment, but they don

Life is full of challenges and most of us will experience occasional periods of sadness. However, prolonged sadness coupled with other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt, loss of interest in things that used to produce pleasure,

Increased options for instant connection can have positive and negative impacts on relationships. While online resources can help us stay connected to those we love and increase relationship satisfaction Pettigrew, 2009; Sidelinger, Avash, Godorhazy, & T

All relationships experience change over time (Larson, 2003). Even the strongest relationships can often benefit from a skilled a marriage counselor to help to smooth over the rough patches in their relationship. While the needs of relationships vary, som

Every family experiences stress and encounters problems. Stepfamilies, however, may face unique and complex challenges when problems arise. This happens, in part, because family members do not have a shared history and have not learned how new family memb

Struggling to find time for your partner? Follow these 7 simple steps to create more quality moments together!

If you and your partner have trouble finding couple friends to spend time with, you are not alone. Watch this video for some advice on ways to turn making friends into a fun activity to do together.

Talking to kids about difficult subjects—like loss, mental health, or life changes—can be intimidating. However, fostering open communication is key to building trust and helping them navigate life’s complexities.

Do you ever feel like there’s never enough time, yet you long to spend more meaningful moments connecting with your sweetheart? You’re not alone. Life is busy, and while we may not always have as much time as we’d like, connecting with our partner through

Sharing positive experiences strengthens bonds and builds healthy relationships. Celebrating others' happiness boosts emotional ties, fosters supportive relationships, and encourages positive communication. Responding with enthusiasm, appreciation, and va

Friendships improve mental, emotional, and physical health, extend life expectancy, and provide support during tough times. However, in committed relationships, it's crucial to manage outside friendships, especially with the opposite gender, to maintain i

The holiday season is upon us and with that comes the thoughts of family, friends, and festive times. However, with all the holiday cheer some people may feel a little lonely.

Building trust with your child is key to ensuring they will be willing to discuss tough topics with you. Consider these tips on how to begin to build or strengthen trust with your child.

Learn more about Love Languages with Elizabeth Davis, Associate Extension Professor.

You’re not alone in feeling like you’re being pulled in a million directions. It’s important to recognize that while your responsibilities might not change, your ability to manage and reduce stress can improve significantly.

Balancing life’s demands can be challenging, especially when managing work, family, and personal interests. In fact, balancing work duties and family responsibilities is an ongoing struggle for many American adults.

Negotiated time-outs are a way couples can de-escalate conflict and resolve arguments in a calm and logical way.

According to data from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2017-2018, 28% of middle school students and 16% of high school students said they had experienced bullying, while 33% of middle school students and 30% of high school students reported being c

Video from the Marriage Celebration Event in February 2024.

The support caregivers offer is unique to each individual and situation. It could include assisting with household tasks, providing emotional support, helping the individual with personal care (including medicine management, and attending doctor appointme

Perhaps at times you may have felt symptoms, such as increased anxiety and stress, feelings of helplessness, trouble with relationships, etc., and wondered about how it may be affecting you and/or your family.

Caregiving can be very rewarding, but it also can be very stressful and burdensome. Caregiving can induce emotional, financial, psychological, and physical strain.

Does your child dislike loud noises, complain about scratchy clothing or wants to immediately change out of wet clothing? Perhaps they don’t like surprises, notices the slightest unpleasant odor, or are deep thinkers with a clever sense of humor. These ob

While these relationships can be complex and tricky at times, there are ways of navigating them to create a harmonious family life. A key strategy to use when managing in-law dynamics is maintaining a united front.