Dear Gabby

Lending or borrowing—a possible set up —a.k.a. About Asking

Most of the time, throughout each day, we are all relatively unconscious. Someone will ask to borrow a lawnmower, money, or our car without either of us being aware of all that’s involved in responsible borrowing and lending . Similarly,...

Breast implants: Some hard to be with tips

These thoughts are for anyone thinking about getting implants; they address considerations held by many parents. This might appear to be advice against getting implants, in truth it’s simply a collection of paragraphs that might be of value in making...

Therapy-counseling not working fast enough?

If you've been in counseling/therapy and it didn't appear to have worked, or if you're presently in counseling/therapy and you're not happy with the results, then this tip might be of help.

Note: Often one will drag their spouse to therapy and later...

Natural body odors—accurate attractor and compatibility indicators.

Most people bring about a dozen unique industry-added scents into the space of others. i.e. laundry detergents, softeners, soaps, shampoos, deodorants, tooth pastes, mouth washes, perfumes, shaving creams, after-shave lotions,...

How to cause your child to do drugs

Children misbehave, do poorly in school, do drugs and search for love (sex) outside the family when parents lapse into doing their imitation of communication . When real/genuine communication takes place there is an experience of mutual satisfaction and love...

Your answer to this question can determine whether your marriage communications will be mostly pleasant or if there will be lots of condescending, thwarting, self-righteous blaming arguments ending with an acrimonious divorce. That is to say, your answer today predicts the future . If you have lots...

So your teen is stuck in sullen disrespect

Many parents have come to believe that all teens shut-down and go through a rebellious disrespectful period lasting days, weeks, months, or longer. This behavior is typically characterized by unhappiness, abusive rudeness, sullenness, laziness,...

Question: Is there a correlation between the happiness a couple experiences during their marriage and how much money they cause family, friends, and each other, to spend for their wedding?

The premise: Whether or not one handles their wedding expenses responsibly is a valid predictor of the...

One test is to ask your child, “What would you change about me?” However, this is tricky because unless your intention is to get to the truth you’ll unconsciously intimidate your child into responding politely with nothing significant. For example: Relationship Communication Workshop participants...

One way to affirm/reaffirm your commitment to having open and honest communication with your partner (such as supporting the typical newly-wed's pledge—to never go to bed upset) is to invite him/her to do the free Clearing Process for Couples with you.

The Clearing Process for Couples is about...

How to ensure your teen daughter has sex behind your back:

Actually, there’s nothing you have to do. Most parents train their teenage daughter to be deceitful, to hide thoughts such as, “I’m thinking of doing drugs or having sex.” This is especially true of parents who arrogantly believe they are...

Your neighbor's barking dog annoys you. You know it also bothers other neighbors yet no one dares to talk with the dog owner, at least not verbally. Why not? You know that talking to the dog owner is the responsible thing to do. You know if you call the police they will ask, “Have you talked to the...

You have been masterminding a divorce if you are withholding one or more significant thoughts from your partner. You have been dooming your partner to a life with little or no joy.

Most likely you are not experiencing the joyous experience of love throughout each day; that is to say, your love has...

How to cause a man to disrespect you.

This tip should be titled, How to cause your intended to eventually cheat on you as a spouse? It refers to the fact that how you handle premarital sex is a factor in determining fidelity during marriage. Don't jump to the conclusion that this is a...

How to train your child to deceive you, to withhold things/thoughts from you.

Child: I just dinged the car fender with my bike.

Parent: YOU WHAT? CHRIST, I'VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES TO NOT DRIVE NEAR THE CAR! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? GO TO YOUR ROOM! NO TV FOR A MONTH!
In one fell...

Communication tips in support of a harmonious marriage

Most prolonged-extended-reoccurring arguments during a marriage are about an earlier similar argument each partner started and lost with a parent; it was not resolved through to mutual satisfaction—and hugging. Consequently, anger about...

For a background to this Gabby Tip read, Problem with boyfriend's children .

How does a divorced parent know when it’s time to start dating? One sure way to know is to ask the children, however, many single parents are afraid to ask their children, their little gurus. Why? In part, because the...

Recreating a loving supportive relationship between your parents —precluding more of the same.

This tip is for children of estranged parents, parents who are separated/divorced and stuck as adversaries, treating each other abusively (abusively meaning—in ways that don’t feel good to you, each...

Here's one of parenting's best kept secrets:

Once you have run through your checklist—hungry, wet diapers, too warm/cold, and, shushing, walking, rocking, and, lullabies haven’t worked either—what to do? How to get him/her to stop ?

The next time this happens remember this tip:

The words get...

So you’re engaged to an ax murderer

Well maybe not a murderer, but you've noticed that you find yourself less alive after arguments of which there seem to be quite a few. These incidents are referred to as breakdowns in communication , communications that were not mutually satisfying. And, most...

Let's begin with you the reader. It's possible that you have not been acknowledged for your very first lie. In communication coaching jargon we use the word acknowledged rather than caught; caught carries a negative connotation. Your mother may have asked if you brushed your teeth and you said,...

Conversations to have during your engagement

The following is excerpted from the free Relationship Communication-Skills Tutorial.

Here's a list of 15 different conversations tutorial participants are encouraged to have during their engagement. Each conversation includes personal coaching with...

What to do when cheating takes place.

The first thing you the reader need to do is, engage the services of a communication-skills coach, therapist, counselor, or, join a self-awareness type support group—attend monthly group meetings/sessions for a minimum of one year. Do this by yourself—without...