Articles written by Kirsten Locke

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About me - Kirsten Locke

I am the single mother of four children. I have been writing in one form or another, fiction and nonfiction, ever since I learned to put pen to paper. My children are nearly grown now so I finally have better time and energy available to pour myself into this

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Parenting & Pregnancy > Helping Kids Cope How parents can ease children's psychological burdens from divorce: 1 of 25
Children of divorce will always be negatively impacted by it, of course. But there are some things that parents can do to make the process a little less difficult for their offspring during and after a splitting of the ways.First and foremost, no matter what age your children might be, let them know that both mommy and daddy ... More..
Health & Fitness > Therapy & Counseling How family therapy can help your children: 1 of 10
Whether your family has been through a major upheaval or could simply benefit from refining their communication skills with each other, counseling can be a way to aid everyone in the household. Seeking therapy for your children as well as for yourself can help ease any number of stresses for everyone involved. Abuses or lesse... More..
Education > Youth Mentoring Youth mentoring: 2 of 19
My definition of a mentor is apparently broader than most. The common image the word brings to most people's minds is someone from Big Brothers or any other similar organization. But there should be no limits. Mentoring can be a one-time event or it can last a lifetime. Any adult can offer their love and wisdom to any child a... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy Tips for men by men: How to really help your wife through pregnancy: 2 of 14
1. Don't take her hormone surges and subsequent rages personally. Smile and nod while you pretend to listen to her rants. You're going to have to get used to this sort of behavior after the baby comes, too, and not just from your new progeny. You may even find yourself joining in the wailing game as time goes by.2. Hormone sh... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Mother's Day & Father's Day Mother's Day: Best reasons to treat your mother like a queen: 4 of 27
Life in general throws plenty of curve balls and anyone with children knows that these wonderful, crazy little people add so many extra twists that it can make mom dizzy. Yet she endures with a never-ending supply of love and patience for every event, good and bad. Let's take a look at some of what she has to deal withShe's t... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Self-Healing When life hits you hard: 43 of 139
When life hits you hard, it hurts. End of story. You have to take the pain and accept it as part of the process(easier said than done, I know.)We don't like it, but bad things happen to good people all the time.Allow yourself to cry. It's OK to cry when things hurt. Crying is not just for babies. It is for everyone. There are... More..
Relationships & Family > Talking with Teens & Children Tips for improving parent-child communication: 11 of 35
I am the single mother of four. My daughters are in their early twenties now and my boys are in their teens. It's been rough, but we've survived the divorce and a brief encounter with homelessness, among other things. Two of my children have learning disabilities. Two are high on the intelligence spectrum, but struggle with d... More..
Relationships & Family > Cheating Spouses & Affairs Cheating: Is it really worth it: 14 of 31
Some may say yes because there are lessons to be learned, but most will answer with a resounding no. How can there be advantages to cheating? Trust betrayed is some of the worst kind of social and emotional damage that one person can do to another. Yes, there are worse things, like physical abuse and murder, but I'd say this ... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Empathy: 6 of 13
Do unto others as you would have them do to you. This is not only the Golden Rule, but one of the ultimate statements of pure empathy. It is a simple lesson in how to relate to others as well as how to get along. It is not merely advice of action but of thought.Allow yourself to take your own experiences and imagine someone e... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Child Discipline Strategies Teaching children respect: 5 of 10
Like any other life lesson, respect starts at home and it starts early. It also must be a two-way street. Even before they say their first words, babies should be exposed to hearing please' and thank you' on a regular basis. Once they begin talking you can emphasize these words and train them into your child. Of course along ... More..