Kathy’s Books
Appearances
As seen on the weekly Love & Marriage segment of Fox8
As heard co-hosting Relationship Thursdays on Q104
As seen as a guest relationship expert on iVillage.com
NEW! Listen to Kathy's 2-part interview with Trapper Jack and the Morning Show.
Part 1 Part 2Kathy Dawson is a member of the International Coach Federation
Drama – Free Vacations!
Is it possible to have a drama-free summer vacation? I answered that question during an appearance on Channel 3′s Good Company Show this morning. I made several suggestions to help you and your mate (with or without kids) reduce drama during your trip.
- Meet as a couple or as a family at least one week before your vacation to make sure you are on the same page in the following areas:
- Be clear on your vacation “theme.” Is the theme of your vacation relaxation or activity? If it’s a mix of both, be sure to understand how much relaxation and activity each person wants.
- Talk about your food expectations. How much fine dining do you want to do? Do you want to cook on vacation? Would you rather dine casually the entire time?
- Will this be a techno-free vacation or will you be bringing your laptop or Blackberry?
- Have an exit plan. Make sure you exit your home to leave for your vacation in as calm and orderly way as possible. How you leave your home sets the tone for traveling.
- If you are driving, avoid arguing while your motor vehicle is in motion! If you feel an argument coming on, pull over.
- Have had a discussion with your mate in advance as to what your budget is for the trip. What you agree to spend on the vacation may help determine the trip’s theme and dining decisions.
BON VOYAGE!
Right On, Terry Pluto!
I can’t let anymore time go by without acknowledging the on-the-mark points Terry Pluto made in his Plain Dealer column this past Sunday. The title of his column is “Guidelines for Keeping Your Marriage on Solid Ground.” Here is a condensed version of some of the points he makes:
1. Build your marital house on rock, so when trouble comes it can’t be washed away.
2. If communication breaks down, a relationship can easily be reduced to exchanges about daily “stuff,” or it can collapse completely.
3. Is money spent on things you don’t need, only to impress people you don’t even know?
4. Talk/pray about any major financial decision before acting on it, even if you have to wait 24 hours before the purchase.
5. Look to yourself and to God to help you find happiness, rather than depending on your mate to create it for you.
6. Stop scorekeeping. Rather than complaining about what your spouse isn’t doing to help you, think about what you can do to help your spouse.
7. Criticize the action rather than the person. Phrases like, “It was a bad idea when you were late and didn’t call me,” work much better than, “You’re always late,” or “You never call.”
8. To the men, make eye contact with your wife when listening to her. To do otherwise shows you’re not listening.
9. To the women, give your husband time to decompress at the end of the day before telling him what needs to be done.
10. Find a service/ministry you and your mate can provide for others.
Gores No More?
Just heard the breaking news that Tipper and Al Gore are separated. They have 4 grown children and 40 years of marriage behind them and they are splitting. Granted, this may be a separation rather than a divorce. Still it’s a shocker.
I can remember Al planting what would have been a 10-second kiss on Tipper, had she let him. She pulled away before the second hand made it that far. Could there have been a sign way back then that trouble was brewing?
Can’t help but see the irony in that the Clintons, who were dragged through the mud for years with the Monica Lewinsky affair, are still together, and yet the Gores are the ones apparently having serious enough troubles that may lead to a permanent break.
The Gores strike me as people who wouldn’t make a quick, rash decision, so my guess is they have or will see a professional along the way. I’m sure we’ll hear about it.
