Many parents think kids develop strong social skills from memorizing phrases like “please” and “thank you.” But the real foundation is built much earlier, at home and through everyday interactions. I’ve studied over 200 parent-child relationships, and I’m a mother myself. I’ve found that kids learn to communicate and connect by watching how their parents behave….
When my boyfriend asked to move in with me in 2017, I said no. We’d been dating for a year, and both of our New York City leases were about to expire. We’d save so much money if we lived in just one place, he said. But I panicked. Our lives felt so boring. We…
When Amy Morin was 26, her husband of five years died suddenly of a heart attack. They’d started building a life together, including buying a house and becoming foster parents. So “when he died, all of the lifelong dreams I had with him died, too,” says the now 46-year-old psychotherapist and author. Morin didn’t think…
Parents are constantly searching for ways to get their kids to listen. But a lot of us focus too much on trying to get them to obey in the moment, rather than building genuine long-term cooperation. I’ve studied over 200 parent-child relationships, and I’m a mother myself. I’ve learned that kids listen best when they…
One of the most common myths about long-term relationships is that couples eventually run out of things to say. It’s easy to believe: Life gets busy, routines take over and conversations become more about logistics than connection. As a psychologist who studies couples, and based on my own experience being happily married, I know how…
Lucy Rout, founder of Haystack Dating. Lucy Rout Lucy Rout is not your typical entrepreneur. The 30-year-old Londoner — known for going viral for skiing off an icy slope in a bikini and for consulting her Instagram followers on whether she should fly 10,000 miles for a fourth date with a man — has used…
Every parent knows what it’s like to face tantrums, meltdowns, and emotional outbursts. They can make everyday life feel impossible. But after years of studying over 200 parent-child relationships (and from practicing healthy habits with my own child), I’ve found that parents who are really good at handling tantrums use language that soothes, validates, and guides. They…
As parents, we spend so much time helping our kids succeed on the outside — teaching them words, setting routines, and encouraging good behavior. But there’s one skill that quietly shapes whether they’ll be successful in life: self-connection, or the ability to tune into one’s own emotions, needs, and inner voice. When kids feel safe…
As a journalist, a media executive and a communication coach, I’ve spent my entire career focused on helping people communicate what’s important to them One thing I’ve noticed: When it comes to empathizing with someone sharing a personal struggle — whether it’s the trials of a troublesome teenager or losing a job — many of…
Sometimes, 24 hours just doesn’t feel like enough. Between work, commutes, and a growing to-do list, it’s easy to get through an entire weekday without really connecting with your partner. But staying close doesn’t require extra time — just intention. As a psychologist who studies couples (and as a husband), I’ve seen firsthand how small…
