Tis The Season For Divorce (1) By Dr. Michael Brooks

Tis the Season of Divorce (1) By Dr. Michael Brooks

It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year, the holidays are fast approaching and with it, the rise in divorces. There is a reason for the rise in the number of divorces during the winter holidays. Can you guess what those are?
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One major reason is that couples will fight over money on what to spend and where the family will spend the holidays. In-laws come in all shapes and sizes when it has to do with their attitudes and opinions towards your spouse. Some in-laws will embrace your spouse and think they are the greatest son-in-law or daughter-in-law since sliced bread. Then some in-laws, on the other hand, will think that your spouse is a direct descendant of the devil himself. Your spouse can’t do anything right no matter how hard they try. Many in-laws will try to talk their son or daughter into divorcing the son or daughter-in-law just because they don’t like them. Believe me; this happens more often than you can imagine. Money seems to be a problem around the holidays especially Christmas. When one parent starts to buy outside the budget and does not inform the other parent, problems will start to happen. Arguments will happen, and the well-meaning mom or dad will wish they consulted with the other parent before their spending spree.

I’m sure we all want to make our kids Christmas fun and create some memories that will last a lifetime. I had a client whose wife would buy her husband and two kids presents. The day after Christmas she would take most of the presents back to the store where she bought them and get her money back. She couldn’t afford the gifts, yet the emotional damage she caused the husband and kids were a lasting pain they will never forget.

To prevent any arguments, I suggest that you have a budget meeting with your spouse on what you plan to spend and do this together. If you live within your means, there will be less arguing between you and your spouse. Here’s a question that you both need to go over, are the gifts necessary, like clothes, shoes, school items? What do you want to spend on fun things, toys, games, bikes, etc? Stay within your budget.

I know that teenagers can be very difficult to buy for during Christmas, but you still have to plan for it. Maybe you want to get gift cards for clothes, Amazon, or electronics. Having some simple idea’s on your spending options will prevent problems down the road. If you’re on a tight budget, then I suggest that spending quality time with your kids can be lots of fun. Have a game night, make popcorn and play the games your kids like and enjoy. Go to the movies together, spend time talking about their favorite parts and why. The more time you spend being with the kids, the less time they will dwell on what they didn’t get from you. Most kids understand the lack of funds and why no gifts are under the tree. Have activities that are geared towards the kids, like making Christmas cookies together, bless others with the cookies that you make and have the kids be a part of delivering them. The joy they will bring to others is amazing.

Next week I will be writing about the way you communicate with your spouse and family members. An important topic during the holidays.

Do you dread the holidays, the family fights, the arguments? Are you considering a divorce because of the in-laws are making your life miserable? Do you need to be able to express that you don’t want to go to your in-laws and want the peace of staying home? Does your communication with your spouse, children need help? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need contact Dr. Mike and set up an appointment. Don’t allow loneliness to control the new experiences that you can enjoy today.

Please call Dr. Mike at 303.880.9878. He can help you. He has helped several people going through tough times of loneliness.

Dr. Michael Brooks is the founder of Applicable Counseling and life coaching Services. It is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your home. To avoid travel time and the comfort of home, many clients prefer to meet with Dr. Mike over the phone or via Skype (if you want to Skype with Dr. Mike send him an email at mbrooks3353@gmail.com to set up an appointment). The convenience of this type of Counseling/Coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live outside of Colorado. Give Dr. Mike a call! You’ll be glad you did!

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Dr. Mike Brooks

Categories: Divorce and Separation, Divorce Coaching, Marriage Relationships, Personal Growth, Relationships

Dealing With Difficult People (4) By Dr. Michael Brooks

Dealing with Difficult People (4) By Dr. Michael Brooks This week we will continue giving you useful information on dealing with difficult people in your life. Seldom do we know what to say or do with people who are angry and difficult to deal with. Dr. Mike will give you some great advice on how to take back control from difficult people in your life. How to deal with difficult family members and in-laws can be critical for a happy marriage. I have heard some good stories about the crazy in-laws, and I’m sure you have as well. Whether some of these stories are true or not, I don’t know. Most relationships with in-laws are good and healthy. Some are bad, and you probably hear that from some of your friends. When you marry into a family, you have to take the good and the bad with it. So what are the big issues with the in-laws these days? Many complaints I have heard is the way in-laws are critical towards you and the way you do things. They may have a certain way they do things and interject their opinions on you, making you compromise your values and to keep the peace you do it their way. Criticism from an in-law towards a daughter in law or son in law is a major complaint in new marriages. Many times in-laws will find faults with their new son-in-law or daughter-in-law. They look for flaws and report to their child the imperfections they’ve noticed. If your parents are doing this, you need to stop them before it gets out of hand. This will cause a division in your marriage if you support your parent’s behavior. Pull them aside and let them know that you appreciate their concerns but you will deal with it if it becomes a problem. Protect your marriage from outside sources (parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, etc.) People mean well, but your new spouse comes first, take no sides. If there are issues, talk to your spouse first and deal with it between the two of you. Here are some of my tips in dealing with your in-laws and your parents if issues keep coming up. • Keep your quarrels between the two of you, don’t involve others. • When disagreeing with each other be civil, don’t defend parent’s behaviors. I know it’s tempting, especially if your parents are defending you. • Don’t take sides with your new spouse, be neutral and then sit down with husband/wife and talk. • Don’t let your parents talk you into anything, think first! • Protect your spouse, your parents, and in-laws from divisive people • Don’t repeat gossip about anyone or anything. Keep the peace • Avoid endless battles or confrontations These days, families, in-laws, spouses come in all different shapes and sizes. We’re all different and have been raised differently by our parents, grandparents. Some parents were strict while others laid back and carefree. There are so many different parenting styles, and we all want to have some input with suggestions on how we think our grandchild should be raised. We need to let our adult children ask us for advice, not we enforce our idea’s and opinions on them. If you’re asked, then by all means give your advice. Keep from interjecting and forcing your advice and being labeled a difficult parent or in-law. In closing, difficult people surround us everywhere. It depends on how we interact with them that will dictate the outcome. My first instinct is to avoid unnecessary run-ins if at all possible. It’s not worth the aggravation and heartaches it causes. If you must deal with someone, that is difficult, then be on guard and be careful with what you say and the intent behind it. If this individual is still a problem, then walk away. Are you afraid to confront difficult people in your life? Do you have family members who are difficult to get along with? Do you fear family gatherings because of past run-ins with siblings, parents? Would you like a plan that can help you face difficult people in your life? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then contact Dr. Mike for personal help and planning your next steps at 303.880.9878. Dr. Michael Brooks is the founder of Applicable Life Coaching and Counseling Services. It is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your home. To avoid travel time and the comfort of home, many clients prefer to meet with Dr. Mike over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of Counseling/Coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live outside of the Denver-metro area. Give Dr. Mike a call! You’ll be glad you did!

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Dr. Mike Brooks

Categories: Marriage Relationships, Personal Growth, Professional Accountability Coaching, Relationships

The Power of Your Words Give Life or Death (5) By Dr. Michael Brooks

The Power of Your Words Give Life or Death (5) By Dr. Michael Brooks

You want to create good memories of what your children think of you and how you are setting an example of how they will raise their families when they are on their own. Kids today live in a world of mass confusion. Why? It’s the electronics, mass media, the internet and so much more. Be kind in what you say to your kids. Be a parent and not a best friend. Be in control of your feelings at all times.

Your words give life and death in your marriage, did you know that? Well they do and men and women need to know that. In the age of easy divorces and separations you really need to know the right words that help you build up each other.

What words do most divorcing and separated couples use against each other. Remember your words mean life and death to your marriage! One of the biggest death words in a marriage spiraling out of control is “lack of communication” avoiding talking with each other because you’re angry. You want to punish the other person by avoiding speaking or seeing them. I want to encourage you if this is your style of inflicting pain on your spouse it’s a recipe for disaster.

In your anger don’t say anything that your spouse will take personally. Don’t say anything about their physical appearance. Don’t be critical about their weight, being bald, the way they dress, the way they do their hair. Avoid going down this road. You may think it funny and say they don’t care what you say about their appearance…trust me it’s a deep painful reminder each and every time you say it. If you have done this in the past you owe your spouse an apology and never say it again. Words can kill a marriage or any relationship for that matter.

Don’t talk bad about your in-laws, another marriage word killer. Stay away and avoid doing this. You being married to your spouse and talking negatively about your spouse’s family can be a mine field for you and have some bad consequences for your marriage. I keep repeating myself here..if you don’t have anything good to say about your in-laws, then don’t say anything at all. I have seen some big arguments in my office from a spouse who has been critical towards their in-laws. I think sitting down with your spouse and explaining why you feel the way you do would go a long way in preventing issues with spouse and your in-laws. Finding faults with in-laws can be a problem for the entire family. State your reasons why you feel the way you do and talk to your spouse about them. Being constantly critical of your in-laws and not offering a resolution to fix the problem is unhealthy for your marriage. Ask yourself, do I have valid points or am I just wanting to complain about my in-laws?

Next week we will continue with our series The Power of Your Words Give Life or Death. Learn how to be uplifting to those in need with positive affirmation words. A single encouraging word can change a person’s life forever.

Do you need help in how to use uplifting words to those you know and you’re a negative person? Do you want to know how to respond to those who keep speaking negative words over you? Are hurting over a past relationship that someone said things that you still can’t get out of your mind? Do you need to move forward in your life but your still stuck with painful memories of what someone said to you or about you? If you answered yes to any of these questions give Dr. Mike a call and he can help you sort things out!

Dr. Michael Brooks is the founder of Applicable Counseling and Life Coaching Services. His services are affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. To avoid travel time and the comfort of home, many clients prefer to meet with Dr. Mike over the phone 303.456.0555 or via Skype at drmike45. If you’re interested skyping with Dr. Mike send him an e-mail and let him know who you are and your skype name. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life counseling and life coaching. We come to you when you need us most.

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Dr. Mike Brooks

Categories: Confrontation, Divorce and Separation, Marriage Relationships, Personal Growth, Regrets in Life, Relationships