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Greetings!
Happy holiday season to you all! I absolutely love the smells, the songs, the beauty and the sense of generosity of this season! The air is colder and the parking lots are crowded so lots of warmth and patience are required to navigate the next 4 weeks. Keep your smiles intact and wish everyone well - especially those honking and screaming at you. (On-line shopping is sounding good about now!)
No matter what you celebrate, my family and I wish you and your families a very happy, healthy and joy-filled season!
Wishing you balance,
Bette Alkazian, LMFT
Balanced Parenting |
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Parenting tip of the month: |
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Using Your Head, Not Your Reflexes When Dealing With Your Extended Family
The holidays are notoriously a time when family schtick rears its ugly head. Stresses are high and we sometimes say things we shouldn't or get offended more easily than we should.
Let's all commit to trying on some new behaviors rather than defaulting to old patterns and perhaps creating some uncomfortable moments. Try some of these tips to break unhealthy habits:
- Take deep breaths
- Leave the room, if necessary, to avoid saying something you'll regret or becoming involved in something you don't want to be a part of.
- Watch your family's typical patterns like an observer from afar. Distance yourself and watch it like a reality show. (You might even be able to laugh instead of scream!)
- Keep your expectations realistic. If your Uncle Bob always acts like a goofball, then don't expect him to act any differently. We are often disappointed when we have unreasonable expectations.
- Don't react. Take a minute and then respond with your head, not your reflexes!
You get to decide what kind of holiday you'll have. Regardless of anyone else, choose to make it a great day for you and your family.
Happy Hanukkah!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy New Year!
Bette
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ASK BETTE!
If you have a parenting question that you want answered, just pop me an email and I will do my best to answer it for you in an upcoming newsletter. Type "Ask Bette" in the subject line.
bette@balancedparenting.com |
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The time has come...
make an appointment now! |
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I have been putting it off for a long time, but the time has come. I will be raising my price for private parent coaching and psychotherapy sessions in the new year.
As my holiday gift to you, I won't be raising my prices until January 15th, enabling you to come in after the holidays and lock in my current price ($150/hr.) After 1/15/13, my prices will be going up for new clients to $175/hr.
(As always, a sliding fee scale is available.)
Don't let the issues and pain in your family grow any longer or wait until things reach crisis proportions. Call now to come in for a tune-up! Your whole family will thank you and you'll feel so relieved!
Call 805-230-2464 to make an appointment! |
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