Talking about a future of illness and loss with your adult children is far from easy, but so necessary. It's important to approach the subject of your aging and eventual decline and demise in a thoughtful, collaborative way.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy shares stories of adult children whose lives were changed drastically by parental expectations and demands. She asks the questions how much is reasonable to expect, in terms of future care, from our adult children as we age? And how much is too much to ask?
Dr. McCoy makes suggestions for future planning with your children in ways that will enable all of you to achieve your future hopes and dreams.
There are some unique challenges for married couples in retirement. There is the reality of a long marriage. There are the losses and challenges of retiring and the pervasive possibility for further losses. There may be new isolation. And there is increased togetherness.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy shares some ideas for increasing marital harmony and happiness in the retirement years.
Although the current generation of young adults is more well-traveled, technologically sophisicated and accomplished than young people a generation ago, it seems that it's harder than ever for young adults to leave home emotionally and for parents to let go.
In this episode, Dr. McCoy talks about the necessity of loving our kids and trusting in their competence enough to let them go. Giving our children a firm sense of values and a sense of who they are and where they come from is vital. So is giving them wings -- wings build by teaching them independent living skills, letting them fight their own battles and solve their own problems, letting them know that it's O.K. to go, to be scared, to be unsure and to be excited as they venture out of the nest. Your beloved children will thank you, even many years later.
Why do we keep doing things that make us unhappy? What do certain things seem to happen over and over in our lives?
In this episode, Dr. McCoy explores some common repetitive scenarios: when you find yourself attracted to romantic partners or friends who cause you unhappiness, when you find yourself in similar situations at different work places, when you find yourself having trouble with change.