Tag Archives: conversation

Take the Challenge

In Australia, this week has been designated as families’ week. Linda Burney, Minister for Community Services, has challenged families to turn off the TV and the computer and to set the table and sit down to a meal together. I’ve always been an advocate for eating meals together and not doing them in shifts as some people seem to do. No, it’s not always easy with work commitments, meetings, and after school activities. But it is worthwhile. Just as you and your spouse need that together time, the date nights and time to relax and talk together away from family, … Continue reading →

Pets Bring People Together

Way back when I first started writing for the Families.com Pets Blog, I wrote about how my father and I don’t always see eye to eye. If there’s only one thing we agree on, it’s our love for our four-legged family members. On the rare occasions that we chat on the phone, the main topic of conversation is the pups. How are my dogs, Moose and Lally? How are the dogs back in New Jersey? Who’s been to the vet, who’s got a new bad habit, what was the last three-dog walk like? (My parents have one dog and my … Continue reading →

Create Space for Conversations

Have you ever noticed how there are just some environments that lend themselves to conversation? There is a reason they have those big comfy chairs and cozy corners at your favorite coffee shop, or that fine restaurants have a different décor and arrangement that the local fast-food joint. Surely, you have been in homes that felt cozier and more open to lingering conversation than others? When it comes to our family life, we might have a perfectly utilitarian family room and a high tech living room—but is there space in your house that encourages family members (and others) to just … Continue reading →

More Tips for Serious Discussions with Your Mate

In a previous article I began giving some ideas on how to more successfully have a serious discussion with your mate. Communication is a very important part of having a healthy relationship. In addition to making certain that you talk, it is also equally important how you communicate. There are many different ways to talk to your mate. Some ways are much more effective than others. My first suggestion was to not begin the conversation with “we need to talk”. Using this phrase often leads to the assumption that something negative is about to occur. Most men in general are … Continue reading →

A Little Stimulating Conversation Would Suit Me Just Fine

Periodically we write about the realities, dreams and perils of single parent dating here in the Single Parents blog. I acknowledge that I am not always the most inspirational cheerleader when it comes to the dating department. It might be my personal experience or, more than likely, it is just my personality and my age–there are other things that consume my time now. Still, as I look around my world of colleagues, distant old friends (who have moved far away so we rely on e-mail for connection, occasional dates, and acquaintances–I realize that at this point in my life, some … Continue reading →

Conversation Starter Trick—What Do They Have in Their Hand?

Finding ways to get conversations started and smoothly approach new people at networking events can be a challenge for some. Starting from scratch can seem hard, and making “small talk” can seem daunting too. One “trick” for approaching people and starting up an introductory conversation is to see if they have anything in their hands, and use THAT as a jumping-off point. Now, granted, people don’t ALWAYS have something in their hands, but they often do. Often, they are carrying a book, magazine, or newspaper, or may be holding a purse, bag or datebook. Making a casual comment, or, even … Continue reading →

Trivia is a Fine Distracter

Distraction and re-direction are great skills for a parent to have in their parenting tool box. While we may learn to use these naturally with an active toddler—turning him away from trouble by distracting with a toy or a change in activity, as children get older, finding ways to re-direct and distract can get a bit tougher. One of the things I learned over the years is that discussions of popular culture or trivia serve as a fine distracter! When my children were little I could use songs, poems, a change in activity, all sorts of easy endeavors to re-direct … Continue reading →

Don’t Overlook the Power of Small Talk

Think your time is precious and that if you have to chat your way through one more cocktail party or networking event you will scream? If you are trying to build a business, all those opportunities for small talk can actually result in an increased profit margin and a fatter bottom line. Small talk can really yield big results… Done properly–and that means listening attentively and asking the right questions, you can actually garner quite a bit about a person from a brief, seemingly meaningless conversation. Chatting about the weather, sports, current events, or other typical topics found buzzing around … Continue reading →

How Important is Conversation in Your Marriage?

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That’s the question for all of you. Take a moment and think about it. How important is conversation in your marriage? Conversation includes any time the two of you talk and share more than three exchanges that go beyond: hey, how ya doing? Chances are your spouse and you have conversations all the time; it’s rare for any of us to want to spend time with anyone we can’t have a conversation with. So it stands to reason that we wouldn’t marry someone we can’t have a conversation with. It’s not surprising then that when you and your spouse aren’t … Continue reading →

Dinner Discussions for Week 32

This week’s dinner discussion are based on lesson number thirty-two. As you review the lessons with your family keep the mood light and fun. Your children will respond more positively to a show and tell environment rather than a testing type environment. You also may want to start with your youngest children since they tend to have a shorter memory. If you have children in Nursery or Sunbeams, they learned about being thankful for food and clothing. They talked about the different types of food and where they come from. They also talked about how clothes were made. They learned … Continue reading →