Dr. Neill Neill

 

For most families the holiday season is an emotional time. Our young children make more demands upon us. Our adult children expect something of us. If our parents are alive, they may have expectations of us. Our friends may expect us to go shopping with them or go to parties—thus causing holiday stress!

By Carrie Powell-Davidson

 

We hope that Christmas is a time of joy and happy memories for everyone but the sad truth is, it is not.  Many people have experienced the loss of a loved one and celebrating Christmas without them is unbearable.  Others may be battling one of life’s challenges such as addiction, illness or poverty and well, their priorities just don’t include a warm and fuzzy holiday.  For many of us who work so hard throughout the year, the mere thought of taking on yet another burden like preparing for Christmas is squashing any hopes of a merry ho ho.  As retailers and revelers prepare to greet the festivities with open arms, let’s slow it down a notch and have a look at some ways that might help you to relax this season.

Dr. Neill Neill

 

When two people get married for the first time, they seldom anticipate ever being part of a blended family. However, blended families, and how we transition into them, are facts of modern life.

 

On the first evening of a recent holiday weekend my wife Eileen and I headed off to a cottage on Mount Washington. About the same time three other cars were en route. Our daughter (Eileen’s) and our two grandchildren arrived. Eileen’s ex husband and his wife arrived with their son and Eileen’s and his son. Then their daughter from Ontario and her toddler arrived in the fourth car.

Dr. Neill Neill

If you are in an unhappy marriage, is it better to stay married just for the sake of the children–or to divorce? Are the affects of divorce on children always negative? What really is best for the children?

Dr Neill Neill

 

Today I write about happiness, entitlement, achievement and meaning. How do they all connect?

A guest came to visit a Saskatchewan farmer for the first time at his farm. As the visitor took in the expanse of billowing wheat fields that stretched out from the well-maintained family home and farm buildings, he commented to the farmer, "God has been good to you." The farmer replied with a smile, "He certainly has…but you should have seen the place when he was managing it by himself."

Dr. Neill Neill

Grief is an emotion we all will experience at some point in life. The loss through death of someone near to us is an inevitable part of life. Intellectually, we all get this truth, but experientially, it takes some of us a long time to get the lesson.

My oldest daughter, the mother of my first grandchild and the grandmother of my two great grandchildren, died suddenly three weeks ago in Ontario.

Dr. Neill Neill

Parenting is not easy. In the fast paced competitive society we live in, many parents are concerned with their child’s self esteem. Building self confidence in children is important, but can there be a wrong way of going about it?

Dr. Neill Neill

Domestic violence and child abuse are two very sensitive topics. Yet, October is dedicated to helping people become aware of these two types of abuse and how to recognize an abusive relationship.  The article focuses on awareness of spousal abuse in particular.

I knew a man who regularly raged at his wife, but never in public, so few people knew about it. As his wife got better at not accepting unwarranted blame, his rages grew into smashing furniture and driving recklessly. He eventually assaulted her and broke bones. Then she left. He always believed she was at fault.

 

My son Colin died less than four weeks ago. Actually Colin was my stepson, but we had been in each other’s lives since he was 11, and he introduced me to hospital staff as "my dad"…he was my son. His memorial service is the day after tomorrow.

Colin had been very ill in hospital since mid February. He had an infection around his heart, and his heart suddenly gave out. The nurse who was with him said he started to have difficulty breathing and he was gone in seconds. 

If you had known Colin, you would remember his charm and good humor. He could light up a room with his presence.
 
You might also have been exposed to his generosity and compassion.

 Dr. Neill Neill

One of my stepsons is gravely ill in hospital, and the past three weeks have been an emotional roller coaster ride for him and the entire family. He has been my son since he was 11; he just turned 40. This is a personal story of grief, love, anger, acceptance and gratefulness.