Mom 4 Biz

Sibling Rivalry – How to be Best Friends & Sisters

Growing up sisters can be an awesome and frightening situation. You’re always competing, trying to one up your sister, trying to live up to your sister, or worse, trying to overcome your sister. And yet… often the problem isn’t your sister.

How can you overcome the sibling rivalry that is natural between sisters and acquire the best friend closeness you desire with your sister?

There are several answers, some of them simple enough to start immediately; others may take a while to forge through. But the most important one of all is readily available to you right now.

Be yourself. Recognize that the two of you aren’t meant to be just alike; you can be different and remain likable and friendly with each other. Yes, you have the same parents (in many cases both parents) but your personalities may be totally different. You may have different interests, talents, skills and abilities. That’s okay, because if you were identical, there’d be no need for one of you. You should be different, but it’s okay to have some common characteristics.

Talk to your sister with an open mind. Chances are she envies you as much as you envy her. Remember that what you like about yourself, she may not particularly like. She may like the things about you that bug you to tears about yourself. And even worse, you may not understand why she likes those things. Learn how to communicate and appreciate each other for who you are. Learn to accept yourself and love who you are, because that’s important too.

Share your memories. One of the best parts of being sisters is sharing memories. You won’t remember everything the same way. In fact, what you remember as highly important may not have impressed your sister at all. She may remember something totally different. The joy of memories is in the sharing of them. You may not remember everything alike, but you’ll remember that they happened at the same times.

Make time for special moments with your sister to share the best memories and make more. A set of mugs exchanged and used every holiday might remind you to have cocoa or tea together and enjoy an afternoon of browsing, shopping, and getting to know each other.  Take the time to be friends. Spend time together, talk, and share. It will be time well spent and memories you’ll never forget.

Visit http://mom4biz.com for more tips on how to stay in touch with your family.

© 2008 – Jan Verhoeff

Single Parent Dilemma – How to Pack Up and Move for a Fresh Start in 5 Easy Steps

If you’re a single parent, you probably struggle with just getting through the day like most single parents, but there is a solution. Sometimes you just need a fresh start to get your act together and move to a better location. It doesn’t take much, if you plan your way clearly and get a jump start on the process with these 5 easy steps.

1.       Find your purpose

You’ve been thinking along these lines for a while now. You really want to meet some new friends, have some new faces in your circle of who-knows-who, and get a chance to work your way up in a career that doesn’t remind you of your ex or his family. Do it! What’s stopping you? This is your life. Find a purpose to live well and go do it.

2.       Prepare your source

Everybody needs some kind of source for future reference and supply. The demand is great out there and the last place you want to turn is to the government. Do something better. Plan a source of back up and put your plan into place. Prepare your source for the future — 6 months income in savings should do you, if you have jobs lined up.

3.       Round up some assistance

Moving is hard work. Enlist your family and friends. Yes they want you to stay where you are, but they’ll still love you if you move away too. Call them up, have a packing party, ask them to bring you stuff when you invite them to dinner the first weekend in your new house. Invite the neighbors in and let them know you come from quality folks. You’ll have a new circle of friends in no time.

4.       Declare de goal date

This is the day you move out of the old life and into the new one. Set it about seven months out so you’ve got time to plan, accomplish and accommodate your needs and desires. Start packing the ‘stuff’ and get it all labeled and ready to move. A closet will hold a lot of stuff if it’s packed tightly into boxes.

5.       Escape into your future

Now that you’re here, remember to change your habits. Start exercising every day, take a class, write a book, get a whole new look, cut your hair, hem your skirts and live like you want to live. Take a chance and go to church on Sunday; you might make a few friends there too. This is your life – live it well!

While you may seriously be thinking I’m a nutcase for suggesting you pull up stakes, rip the roots from the ground, and park your carcass in a new time zone – the reality is, you’d do it in a heartbeat if you thought you could survive it. So, come on… Let’s DO IT!

Visit my website at http://mom4biz.com for more Independent Mom-Style Single Living tips.