When your family gets on your nerves, remember those who have none. During the hard times they fend for themselves, no shoulder to lean on. But…your relatives still irritate from time to time.

We will focus on the following areas:

Follow your heart
Alone time
Children

Follow your heart

Your parents would love for you to be a lawyer, but your heart is set on Art. Your aunts and uncles have chosen the ‘perfect’ boy for you, but you can’t stand him. Your grandparents want you to come to their native country, but you’d rather stay at home with friends. You versus Them.

Remember that part of being a strong black woman is standing up for yourself. If you don’t want to do something then don’t do it. Sit down and think about your future, and then go for it. Your relatives have lived their lives, so don’t let them live through yours. They may be disappointed with your choices for the moment, but at the end of the day they love you no matter what. Happy you = Happy family.

Alone time

The husband wants his breakfast. The kids want to play. The teens are throwing a strop. The dog is barking at the postman. You friend keeps calling. Your boss wants you to work overtime. Sometimes life is too much. So sit back, and relax.

A healthy mind is imperative to healthy body, so if you want to live long and prosper, chill out. I know the bills and general workload can get you down, but they cannot be tackled with a flustered mind. When you step back things ALWAYS seem much clearer. Even if it’s only for twenty minutes a day, go somewhere private and spend quality time with you.

The kids

Do you remember how it was ‘back in the day’? Maybe, maybe not, but your kids certainly don’t think so. In their minds you’re too out of touch to understand. Give them advice and step away. The more you push one option the more you push them toward another. Many teenagers rebel because their hormones are raging and they’re learning what their place is in society. At the end of the day, it’s their lives not yours. You can’t stop them from making mistakes or having regrets. Mistakes mould us into better people- without your past experiences, bad and good, you wouldn’t be you.

Now you’ve dealt with family issues, you could focus on friendship problems or your love life.