We all have them–one or more people in the family that make life difficult. A controlling in-law, a rebellious child, a loud and obnoxious uncle, or maybe the gossiping aunt. They come in all sizes and shapes. And every holiday season, we have to be intentional about how we are going to handle difficult relatives.…

Family conflict: Rob was caught between his  mother and his wife. ” I know your mom thinks she is helping, but if she tells me one more time how to parent our children, I’m leaving. Talk to her! I am tired of her negative comments to me.” Rob wasn’t sure what to do. Should he confront…

Jack left work late, didn’t call his wife and missed the school meeting. When he finally arrived home, he looked at his wife and said, “Don’t start. I’ve had a lousy day!” No apology. He walked away and his wife was angry! Not a good way to handle the situation. Missing from this interaction was an apology. Jack…

No matter how difficult our relationships can be, most adult children want a good relationship with their mothers. Whether your  relationship is great, terrible, or somewhere in between, mother-daughter relationships are powerful and partially define who we are. The more you work through issues with your mom, the better all your other relationships will be. Here are a…

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More from Beliefnet and our partners