By Katie McCallum | Houston Methodist   As stay-at-home orders continue to be established and extended throughout the country and the coming weeks, connecting with family and friends probably looks quite a bit different these days. While nothing can truly replace the in-person hugs, hello’s, high-fives and happy moments, here… The post 9 Tools to […] More

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By Jeff Anderson | Contributor Sometimes, people start a divorce by going to a lawyer, paying a retainer, and signing a contract to start with the divorce proceedings. Others may speak to an attorney and then go home to gather all the necessary documents to plan for the divorce. If you suspect that your spouse might be doing some planning, here are some signs to look for. […] More

Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Goodlifefamilymag.comWho doesn’t love a celebration? But make no mistake – a celebration is most rewarding after plenty of hard work and determination; and the tougher the task at hand, the sweeter the success.  Now, as we toast to our 10th anniversary, the GLF team and I look back with a lot to celebrate.  We have gone out on a limb in every aspect of our lives but, like Mark Twain famously said, “Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is?”  I can say with conviction that I have never worked (professionally speaking) as hard on anything as I have on Good Life Family and GoodLifeFamilyMag.com. I have invested my heart, mind and resources into making GLF a PUBLICATION WITH A PURPOSE. We have grown, we have gained momentum, and we are making a difference.  In the new year, you will see some big changes coming to Good Life Family. We are fine-tuning a new logo and re-branding to include a broader take on the word family because we know that the role of parenting often includes aunts, uncles, friends, etc. When we launched Good Life Family back in 2015, most of our core team was navigating life with middle schoolers. Now, those tweens and teens are in their 20’s – some are married and planning families of their own. So, we are growing up too. We will expand our voice to include younger parents, babies and toddlers, and grandparenting advice, while still providing entertainment and travel resources for all ages, more of our money-saving hacks, work-life balance strategies, and so much more. In addition, we are looking to incorporate your voice more. We want our readers to weigh in with their thoughts and tips for other families going through this journey together. We are working on a virtual Town Hall-style gathering of the minds. We also plan to help younger voices get heard. If your kids are budding writers, illustrators or photographers, please let them know we welcome their talent. We also plan to launch a global book club and add a Points of View forum on new movie releases. To join us on our mission to educate, inspire and motivate positive change, reach out to Paige Jackson, our Marketing and Content Manager, at [email protected]. As a publisher and founder of Good Life Family, I want to take a moment to toast my amazing team of professionals – editors, proofreaders, managers, writers and designers, four of whom were there from the beginning. Thank you for sharing my passion to make a difference in the lives of others by giving of your time and talent.  I also want to thank our clients, our promotional partners and advertisers. Without you, we would not be able to do the important work we cherish. As a mom, there is no greater celebration than the health and happiness of my adult children, Bryce, 26, who married his longtime love (they started dating as freshmen in high school!) Daria, who we whole-heartedly welcomed into the flock, Jaxie, 25 and Lindsey, 23. Each of them have “flown the nest” and are thriving in their own journeys. Although I traded valuable time with them to embark on the GLF journey (balancing family and work is a non-stop challenge for most of us, and a consistent topic in our pages), the upside of that trade is that my kids are witnessing first-hand the passion that goes into creating something worthy of celebration. In fact, they always found ways to pitch in to help or cheer me on. I am grateful for their support and sacrifice and for giving me the best job title in the universe: mom.As a daughter, I am reminded that being part of the “Sandwich Generation” – those of us sandwiched between raising our kids and supporting our own aging parents – is both challenging and rewarding work and that each day needs to be celebrated.Finally, no celebration is complete without amazing friends. We celebrate the peaks (boy, do we!), but more importantly, we are alongside each other in the valleys.  Deep friendships are built brick by brick and fortified by the test of time. As I’ve continued to grow as a person (much of that growth attributed to the wisdom of our experts for over a decade in Good Life Family!) and define my life in the “empty nest,” I have found countless opportunities to welcome new friends into my orbit. I have found that meeting a friend at this point in my life often feels like an instant connection, one that is easy, honest, transparent, soulful, like you’ve known this person forever – or wish you had – and I am going to cherish these relationships as they continue to grow and develop in the years to come. Similarly, now that I have more work-life balance, I have found the time to reach out to and welcome back old friends, some from my early childhood, who had remained in my heart, but life took us apart geographically. Spending time with these amazing friends is a true celebration of the term life-long.I’ll toast to all that!Wishing you and yours a new year filled to the brim with health, happiness, love, peace, and plenty of “Cheers!”-Sheryl More

By Family Features | ContributorWhen someone you know loses a loved one, finding the right words can be difficult. A bit of compassion goes a long way and knowing the right thing to say matters.According to funeral professionals who guide families through loss daily, the approach matters.Here are five thoughtful things to say when someone dies, based on insights from spokespeople from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), which represents funeral directors who support families every day during the grieving process:“I’m here for you.”Offering your presence, whether to listen, help with daily tasks or just sit quietly, lets the grieving person know they are not alone.Funeral director Allyse Worland says, “Do more listening and less talking. I am still here for you, even after the service.”“Tell me about your loved one.”Inviting stories and memories honors the deceased and helps keep their spirit alive.“Tell me about your loved one,” funeral director Stephen Kemp said. “What made them special? Positive stories are always helpful.”“What can I do to support you right now?”Rather than a vague “let me know if you need anything,” this question encourages specific offers of help, which can be easier for someone in grief to accept.“Offer actual support instead of just saying ‘sorry’ or ‘thoughts and prayers,’” Worland said.“It’s OK to feel whatever you’re feeling.”Grief is a uniquely personal experience that can evoke a range of emotions. Validating those feelings removes pressure to “be strong” or “move on” too quickly.“Sometimes you don’t have to say anything,” funeral director Camelia Clarke said. “A hug or touch says it all.“I don’t have the words, but I am here for you.”Sometimes, words fall short. Acknowledging this honestly while offering your presence can be deeply comforting.“Your presence and ear are what they need,” Kemp said.Funeral directors caution against common but unhelpful phrases such as “They’re in a better place” or “At least they lived a long life,” which may unintentionally minimize the bereaved’s pain.“Less is more,” funeral director Daniel Ford said. “Sometimes, a ‘hi’ and a hug or handshake is enough.Families and friends leaning on the expertise of funeral professionals who guide families through planning meaningful services and providing ongoing grief support is encouraged by the NFDA.Offering free resources, Remembering A Life helps families honor their loved ones and navigate grief. These include planning guides, grief support tools, creative activities and checklists.For example, the planning guide helps families organize a meaningful tribute, whether traditional or smaller memorial gatherings. The initiative also offers free printable resources such as “30 Simple Ways to Remember a Loved One” and therapeutic coloring sheets designed to support the grief journey.“Sometimes, just being present and listening is the most powerful support you can offer,” Worland said.Visit RememberingALife.com to learn more about how to support a grieving person and access additional resources. More