Mayra Duarte

Fun times in beautiful Hawaii!

Happy Valentine’s Day to my fb family and friends!!!

Blended families: read article below

Blended Families

Blended families, where partners come together with children from previous relationships, require special attention and effort to create a successful and harmonious family life.

Here are 6 things you can do to ensure your blended families thrives:

1. Have realistic expectations:

Understand that blending families takes time and effort. Be patient and realistic about the challenges that may arise during the process.

2. Prioritize your relationship:

Research by The Gottman Institute found that the strength of a couple’s relationship ultimately determines the family’s success. So, nurture the bond between you and your partner. Regularly invest in quality time together and communicate openly and honestly.

3. Create a new family culture:

Develop new traditions, rituals, and rules that reflect the values and needs of your blended family. Involve all family members in decision-making to foster a sense of belonging.

4. Support co-parenting relationships:

Encourage positive relationships between your partner and their ex-partner. Respect boundaries, communicate effectively, and focus on the children's wellbeing.

5. Nurture individual relationships:

Foster strong bonds with each child in the family. Spend one-on-one time with them, show interest in their lives, and be a reliable source of support.

6. Seek support when needed:

Reach out to support groups, therapists, or counselors specializing in blended families. They can provide guidance and tools for navigating the unique challenges you may face.

By implementing these tips, couples can navigate the complexities of a blended family and create a loving and successful life together.

Remember, patience, open communication, and a willingness to adapt are key to building a strong foundation for your blended family.

Here are 10 tips to bring back the passion in your marriage:

1. Change your pattern of initiating s*x

Maybe you are denying your partner or coming on too strong. Avoid criticizing each other and stop the “blame game.” Mix things up to end the power struggle. For example, distancers may want to practice initiating s*x more often and pursuers try to find ways to tell their partner “you’re s*xy,” in subtle ways while avoiding critique and demands for closeness.

2. Hold hands more often

According to author Dr. Kory Floyd, holding hands, hugging, and touching can release oxytocin causing a calming sensation. Studies show it’s also released during s*xual or**sm. Additionally, physical affection reduces stress hormones – lowering daily levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

3. Allow tension to build

Our brains experience more pleasure when the anticipation of the reward goes on for some time before we receive it. So take your time during foreplay, share fantasies, change locations, and make s*x more romantic.

4. Separate s*xual intimacy from routine

Plan intimacy time and avoid talking about relationship problems and household chores in the bedroom. Sexual arousal plummets when we’re distracted and stressed.

5. Carve out time to spend with your partner

Try a variety of activities that bring you both pleasure. Have fun courting and practice flirting as a way to ignite s*xual desire and intimacy. Dr. Gottman says that “everything positive you do in your relationship is foreplay.”

6. Focus on affectionate touch

Offer to give your partner a back or shoulder rub. People associate foreplay with s*xual in*******se, but affectionate touch is a powerful way to demonstrate and rekindle passion even if you are not a touchy-feely person.

7. Practice being more emotionally vulnerable during s*x

Share your innermost wishes, fantasies, and desires with your partner. If you fear emotional intimacy, consider engaging in individual or couple’s therapy.

8. Maintain a sense of curiosity about s*xual intimacy

Experiment with new ways to bring pleasure to each other. Look at s*x as an opportunity to get to know your partner better over time.

9. Vary the kind of s*x you have

Have gentle, loving-tender, intimate, and highly erotic s*x. Break up the routine and try new things as s*xual needs change.

10. Make s*x a priority

Set the mood for intimacy before TV or work dulls your passion. A light meal along with your favorite music and wine can set the stage for great s*x.

Even if you are not a touchy-feely person, increasing physical affection and emotional attunement can help you to sustain a deep, meaningful bond.

The good news is that allowing your partner to influence you can reignite the spark you once enjoyed. In fact, Dr. Gottman reminds us that friendship is the glue that can hold a marriage together:

May God's blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year.

Marriage Minute

Exercise: Appreciation

You have the power to do one little thing every day to keep the connection with your partner strong: get in the habit of practicing daily gratitude to ensure that romance, affection, and appreciation are a part of your life together.

Choose a characteristic that your partner has demonstrated today from the list below:

Tell your partner why you appreciate this about them!

Repeat this habit of appreciation every day to nurture your connection.

Exercise: Appreciation

You have the power to do one little thing every day to keep the connection with your partner strong: get in the habit of practicing daily gratitude to ensure that romance, affection, and appreciation are a part of your life together.

Choose a characteristic that your partner has demonstrated today from the list below:

Tell your partner why you appreciate this about them!

Repeat this habit of appreciation every day to nurture your connection.

Facing the Holidays Together

Relationships are the key to a happy, healthy holiday season.

Prepare for the busy season, restore relationship ties, and find more joy and closeness with your partner by doing these two things:

1. Make a plan. The holiday season can leave one partner feeling unappreciated or resentful for doing all the shopping and cooking, or it can lead to another partner feeling pressured into doing things their partner’s way. But the holidays are a time to come together as a team and create a sense of balance. Talk through all the social engagements, chores, and responsibilities and determine how you’ll tackle them together. Having a solid plan you can rely on enables you and your partner to spend less time stressing and more time enjoying the holiday season.

2. Spend time together. You might say, "but of course we're spending time together during the holidays!", but how much of that time are you truly spending on each other? Find and set time to spend together one on one, no distractions. It doesn't even need to be that long - even just a few minutes of uninterrupted time will make a difference. Don’t let your date nights or weekly check-ins fall by the wayside. Have a stress-reducing conversation, talk about how you’re both feeling during this busy season, and be intentional about listening to each other and supporting each other.

Dr Gottman

Celebrating 🥳 my birthday with some of my favorite 😻 people, my mother, my wonderful son and my good friend Laura. Thank you for treating me to a wonderful dinner at Black Angus!!!! Thank you to my Fb friends for wishing me a nice birthday 🎂.