Blog - First Things First

The Cost of Delayed Marriage

These things are key to know.

Knot Yet, a report released in April 2013 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies, The Relate Institute and The National Marriage Project at The University of Virginia, explores the positive and negative consequences for 20-something women, men, their children and the entire nation concerning two troublesome trends:The age at which men and women marry, now at historic heights – 27 for women and 29 for men; andThe age at which women have children.Delayed marriage …

On the Verge of Divorce?

Communication can take your marriage from hopeless to hopeful.

You started out with such great intentions, but today your marriage is floundering. The emotional pain runs deep, and both of you struggle with a sense of bewilderment. How can your relationship be in such turmoil when it started out so strong?”I encounter many couples who find themselves in this exact place,” says Pam Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker.

How to Talk to Your Children When Bad Things Happen

Here's help when you have to navigate some really hard conversations with your child.

One of the biggest challenges of parenthood is explaining to your children about bad things that happen in our world. How do you talk with children about violence, death and other issues that are often difficult for even adults to handle?Examine your own feelings first. It is difficult to talk with your children if you have not evaluated your feelings about what has happened.For example, talking about death makes many people uncomfortable.