Fishguard school launches new initiative for pupils
Holy Name School in Fishguard unveiled its new Milestones initiative, with the launch event attracting numerous parents and families.
Children from Class 5 introduced the evening, showcasing the diverse learning experiences that have enriched their education.
The pupils highlighted their creation of the Welsh Llais a Lle podcast, promoting the communities of Fishguard and Goodwick, now available on Spotify.
They also mentioned their collaboration with author Nicola Davies and workshops with internationally renowned author Steve Skidmore.
Families were invited to participate in pupil-led Prayer and Liturgies, fostering community and shared faith within the school.
Students also partnered with the Darwin Centre, participating in a beach clean and analysing sand samples for microplastics.
The Milestones initiative ensures every child at Holy Name School engages in essential life experiences before transitioning to secondary education.
These milestones, blending activities to be completed in school and at home with parents, aim to cultivate well-rounded individuals prepared for future challenges.
The school is committed to providing a comprehensive educational experience that extends beyond academic achievement, encompassing personal growth and community involvement.
Holy Name School looks forward to the positive impact of the Milestones initiative on its students and the broader community.
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Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
These Are Toys That Babies Love (and Parenting Experts Approve of)
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Don't count baby out at playtime. The littlest ones hit major milestones through playing with toys. They acquire new abilities like reaching, grasping, building hand-eye coordination, learning cause and effect and more. And it starts early. "Play is a skill that begins in infancy. We see a newborn go from unoccupied to enjoying solitary play within about 3 months. This is a big step for our little ones!" says Becky Thomas, founder and teacher at Playgroup. She's also a specialist in infant and family development, early childhood and special education. In our list, we left out plush animals. You'll likely receive plenty of bears and bunnies as newborn gifts for your baby to love. Instead, our Good Housekeeping Institute parenting pros and early-childhood specialists focused on developmental toys that help with specific skills as well as toys that can be manhandled by your baby and that engage more than one of their & Count Stacking Cups Cups nesting into each other is magic to a baby. And these colorful cups can do more: "Once an infant has developed the skill of grasping them, placing the cups on top of each other to create a tower is a great problem-solving and cause-and-effect form of play which is a precursor for so many skills later on," Thomas says. Use these to talk about colors and show your baby the raised numbers on the bottom of each cup. They double as tub toys, because holes in the bottom of each cup turn each into a little sieves. These are age-graded starting at 6 months because a baby needs some dexterity and patience to try and stack or nest them. (Knocking them over will be easier!) Plus, your baby is not going to name colors or numbers out loud until toddlerhood. Still, for pure value — you'll use these for years, your child can learn an array of skills from them and the set is less than $10 — these are hard to beat. $7.49 at It doesn't get much more classic than a ball — but infants have trouble grasping a smooth sphere. Even plush balls and bumpy balls can be a challenge at first, when a baby is just gaining hand-eye coordination. The 4-inch, lightweight Oball has a mesh design with 32 finger holes practically guaranteeing that your young baby will be able to grab on, wave this around and revel in a feeling of accomplishment. "The Oball can be thrown, rolled, squashed and passed from hand to hand," Thomas says. This toy is not easy for a baby to gum as a teether but expect them to try and mouth it. It's not dishwasher-safe, so wipe it down with a damp, soapy cloth. This is another infant toy that lasts and lasts — we have a staffer with a 4-year-old who still loves this toy. $4.99 at One of the first things your newborn will do with a toy is track it with their eyes. Dangle these rings, made in eye-catching contrasting colors, and watch your infant learn to follow where they go. Shake the rattle and see if your newborn will turn toward the sound. These are the earliest forms of play! Once your 3-month-old can reach for the NogginRings and grasp them, they'll love putting them in their mouth (of course) and exploring their shape and sounds. "This can help your infant learn to bring their hands together on an object, then transfer it hand to hand," says Jennifer Rothman, LCSW, a child therapist in New York City. NogginRings will stay fun throughout your baby's first year but your toddler will outgrow this little rattle. $23.95 at Fish Babies love to pull at fabric tags, and this tactile toy gives them plenty. Crinkling, squeaking parts, bright patterns, hidden pictures and mirrored surfaces plus a teething fin keep a baby fascinated and exploring. We like this for the prime tummy-time stage from 3 to 6 months when babies can build a lot of core strength by spending some playtime each day on the floor, placed on their tummy with a toy in front of them. Use this toy to encourage your baby to lift their head, then reach and flip the fish fins. This is also a fun toy for your baby to explore while sitting in their bouncer seat. It's just a little bigger than it looks — just over a foot long — which surprises some parents, so it's not super easy to take around on the go. $18.89 at As you introduce solid foods, it's nice to have toys that keep your baby happy in the high chair, waiting to be served or digesting while you clean. Make the time educational with this set of three silicone fidget toys for infants that can stick to a flat surface, then pull off with a popping sound. "They're versatile and can continue to be played with as your child grows older and experiments with creative play," Rothman says. Thomas agrees, adding, "Babies eventually figure out that they can plug pieces together and problem-solve as they create a construction plan. They'll stick them to different vertical surfaces." This toy was a favorite with the daughter of Marisa LaScala, Good Housekeeping's Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor. She was obsessed — and so was LaScala and her husband. "We'd use them as fidget toys for ourselves!" LaScala says. Wash them in the dishwasher. They're a little pricier than most baby toys, but we think they're worth Best Toys and Gifts for 6-Month-Olds $24.95 at Rather than a shape sorter, start a baby with a toy that lets them stuff things in and take them back out. "There's a stage of infant development when they begin to collect and this toy is so perfect for not only collecting the pieces it comes with, but any toy that can fit inside," Thomas says. "Fitting materials inside of the InnyBin requires strong fine-motor skills and problem-solving for size, fit and shape. This is a great toy for practicing determination and developing resilience through focus." Prime time for this toy is 10 months to age 3, as a baby develops better spatial reasoning and gradually gains control over the pieces shaped like a cube, sphere, flower, diamond, happy face and triangle. If this frustrates your baby, first be sure they're in the age window. Second, demonstrate by showing how you pull a toy out or stuff one in. Third, let them experience the possibly maddening period of learning how to do it themselves. "They're building frustration tolerance," Rothman says. The payoff will be your baby beaming with pride. $27.95 at Little Artist Playset This Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards winner includes a squeaking paint tube, a crinkling paint brush and a crayon that makes a giggling sound. The artist bear in a beret is sweet, too! When we tested with families, they loved that their infants could grasp and wave around the small toys by themselves, and that older babies were able to load the toys in and take them back out of the carry case. Gund makes sensory-toy sets with other themes, too, like a food truck set, a plush duffel with four sports balls and a cute plush gift bag for a baby's first birthday. You can spot-clean the toys that make sounds and put the carrying case in the washer on the delicate cycle. Some online reviewers say the pieces are smaller than they expected; each toy is only 3 or 4 inches tall. They're baby-sized! RELATED: Best Sensory Toys $8.11 at Play Center This new developmental baby toy is Montessori-inspired, with simple toys like a mirror, spinners and a wooden bead maze in muted colors. In stage one your baby sits inside, as shown. For stage two, it converts to a tabletop so a toddler can stand and play on the outside. In stage three, you take off the toys and use this as a table for a preschool kid. So it works for infancy through toddlerhood and into preschool. When we tested this in our Lab and with parents we found it easy to build and entertaining for babies who had good head and neck control. Though it is age-graded for 4 months and up, we found that babies started to really enjoy it at more like 6 months. $184.99 at The Giraffe Teether Sometimes it seems as if every baby in America owns this toy. If yours has not yet met Sophie The Giraffe (real name: Sophie La Girafe, she's French), you might want to introduce them to this popular teething toy made of soft yet durable rubber that's been around since 1961. There are a lot of theories as to why Sophie is a babe magnet. She's sized right and provides a bit of bumpy texture for infants, with their clumsy grips, to hold onto. "The shape of the toy offers so many ways to grasp it and it's long enough for an infant to easily bring to to their mouth," Thomas says. Sophie's dark eyes and big brown spots stand out on her white body, and babies love that contrast. Finally, she squeaks when squeezed, a cause-and-effect bonus that tots find hard to resist. "Both my babies tried other teethers but loved Sophie," one tester told us. "And seriously, every kid has a Sophie." A downside is that it can't be sterilized, run through the dishwasher or submerged in water. In order to clean it, the brand recommends wiping it with a damp cloth. RELATED: Best Teething Toys $28.99 at Play Gym This brand makes one of our go-to subscription boxes, but you can buy this play gym à la carte. "I love that it's not visually overstimulating, like many baby play mats," Rothman says. "Plus, this is easy for a baby and mamma to use together." That's one of the things we like most — and it comes with an excellent play guide with stage-based tips and activities for you to try. (Because, let's face it, most of us do not actually know how to play with a baby!) The high price is made more palatable by the fact that this can transform from a play gym into a toddler fort and last for years. We consider this one of our favorite high-quality baby toys because it comes with simple Montessori-style toys like a wooden batting toy and organic cotton ball as well as 14 high-contrast pictures on sturdy cards for your baby to study. The mat itself has different areas of color, pattern and texture to keep things interesting. RELATED: 3 Best Baby Toy Subscription Boxes $140.99 at Time Floor Mirror One way to get a baby lying on their tummy to lift their head and look up is to offer them a glimpse of something cute: "Babies love looking in the mirror so this helps you extend tummy time," says Rothman. This was a favorite for both daughters of Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Institute's Executive Director, Strategy & Operations. "So vain, they loved to see themselves," Sachs joked. (Actually babies don't know it's them in the mirror until they're about 18 months old.) "They also loved reaching for the two sensory toys on the top and bottom." The mirror is baby-safe and unbreakable, so it's a little more distorted than a regular glass mirror. Be sure to peel off the plastic film that comes on for more clarity. $14.99 at Along Tunes Musical Toy Kids love this for the lights and music. Parents appreciate the tunes, since it plays seven classical melodies by Mozart, Vivaldi, Chopin and more. It's pleasant for everyone, and there's volume control if you need it to be a bit louder in the car or softer at home. We like this to throw in the diaper bag for outings because it's so small but so stimulating — if you need to soothe or distract your baby at a restaurant, in the supermarket or while doing a diaper change in an unfamiliar bathroom, this can be little lifesaver. It's also easy to wipe clean. It comes with the two AA batteries needed to get started but online reviews say that you'll want more on hand if your baby loves this toy and uses it often. $9.96 at Ring O Links Infants love how these C-shaped rings clack together and fall all around the main circle ring, which is done up in contrasting black and white. Sassy's O Links are differently textured rings in rainbow colors and the toy, about 5 inches tall, is easy to take anywhere. Pull off any one ring for your infant to grip and gum or keep them all together as a rattling distraction as you travel around in the stroller, car seat or on a plane. If the toy lands on the ground, feel at ease knowing that it is dishwasher-safe. Some parents say they also use the black and white ring to attach other toys for dangling — the main ring pulls open enough to link a toy on, or to clip it to something like the stroller harness. It's a small purchase, not a big giftable kind of toy, but one that you and your baby will probably turn to more than you'd expect. $4.46 at Rattles Wait, did I just do that? When wearing sock rattles, an infant's own motion entertains them, leading to exciting discoveries like finding their own feet. The black and white zebra and smiling cheetah are also made for a newborn to be able to see their contrasting stripes and smiles. Eventually your baby will have the dexterity to pull the booties off and hold them in their hand. Some sensitive infants might get overwhelmed by the rattling after a few minutes so be sure to keep an eye on your baby and remove the socks if looks as if they're agitated or grown tired of them. $8.00 at Stages Piggy Bank A baby able to sit up and grasp, usually after 6 months, will enjoy fitting the 10 coins into this smiling piggy bank — and it hones their hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills. The toy rewards their persistence with songs and phrases, offering words in Spanish and lessons in colors and counting. Once your infant has heard all of the Stage 1 lessons plenty of times, you can switch to Stage 2 for new lessons for your toddler. We like that it comes with the batteries included and that the coins can all store inside the bank. You can turn off the music and sounds, but there is no volume control. $19.49 at Tails Soft Fabric Book Before their clumsy little hands are even ready to turn the pages of a board book, your baby can play with all the tactile features on this soft cloth baby book. Infants can pull on the dangling tails — they love to pull tags and pieces of fabric. Follow each tail to the animal inside and call out its name. The pages crinkle for added interest. Jellycat makes other variations, like one called Farm Tails. This is a book you can explore together, but to help your baby's vocabulary grow, you should also read aloud from regular board books. RELATED: Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards $21.00 at the Firefly We're showing the firefly, but Lamaze makes a herd of bright, dangling creatures that include an axolotl, an octopus and a lobster. This clip-on toy can attach to the stroller and not be thrown overboard, which, you'll learn from experience, is a problem with other toys. Hook it around the stroller harness so your baby can hold this in their hand and explore the layers of textures and fabrics, little mirrors, clacking rings and more. If your infant is still young and not reaching, just looking, you might hook it to the stroller canopy like a mobile. Some parents also hook one to the diaper bag so it's always available as a distraction during on-the-go diaper changes or if you're out running errands and your baby starts to fuss. Any toy that travels with you can get dirty, but note that this toy should be spot-cleaned only; it's not recommended for machine washing. $14.99 at of Circles Stacking Ring You can practically hear your baby's brain whirring as they play with these nine differently sized rings in varying colors and textures. The clear ring even makes a rattling sound. The rings can be stacked in any order, which decreases frustration when stacking. Join in the play and show your infant the difference in size between the large black and white ring and the small one. Then count from 1 to 9 as you put the rings on the pole one at a time. Stacking the rings helps hone hand-eye coordination. In fact this has been lauded as an early STEM toy that can help kids learn sorting, counting, sequencing and recognizing what is the same or different about two objects. We like that the rings are easy for an infant to grab and manipulate. They will outgrow this, however, and be ready to move on to building blocks by age 2. $6.14 at Toy Maracas Shake it up! Toys that play music for your baby are not as richly educational as something like these egg-shaped shakers that let your child make the sounds. We love that they're each shaped like an adorable animal to catch your baby's attention, that there are textures to explore on their bellies and that each one makes a slightly different noise when shaken. They're a bit chunky but if your baby can't grip one at 3 months, they may be able to hold and shake them by 6 months. Note that the sounds these make are pretty soft. We like that they're not cacophonous but if your baby is shaking them while you play music, they might be hard to hear. $9.78 at Learning Walker Once your baby pulls to a stand and takes tentative steps, they're no longer your infant anymore — you're entering toddler territory. Help them along with a push toy your baby can use for balance as they stand and walk. This best-selling toy, which has tens of thousands of five-star Amazon reviews, is much safer than the kind of walker a baby sits inside, where they are essentially trapped. Your baby can let go from a push walker anytime they need to. Your little one can first sit in front of this to play with all the toys on the activity panel, or the panel can be removed and used as a floor toy. They'll stay busy and hone fine-motor skills with the light-up piano keys, a play phone, gears that spin and buttons that, when pressed, deliver fun songs and vocabulary words. When your baby is ready to pull to a stand and work large-motor skills, the toy has a wide base for stability. Your baby can easily grab the green handlebar and push this four-wheeled walker. The two AA batteries needed to get this started are included. The lights and sounds can get a little overstimulating but fortunately there are both high and low volume settings or you can turn it completely off. $47.99 at we choose the best infant toys The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute include parenting-product pros, Ph.D.s who are also parents and journalists who scour the market for the latest and greatest toys. Children's toys and gifts are tested all year. This story consists of top trusted infant-toy brands and products that adhere to all federal safety standards for toys. For infant toys especially, it is critical that each toy has no choking hazards or pinch points. We also included toys that have proven over time to be durable and to hold interest for most babies. Finally, we surveyed child-development specialists outside of the Institute for both their general infant-toy to look for when shopping for the best infant toys The first year is full of developmental milestones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an infant's interaction with toys starts with them looking at a toy for several seconds at about 2 months old and progresses to a baby crawling over to play with a toy by about 9 months, with many small steps in between. (See milestones listed below.) When deciding which toys to introduce in the first year, consider: ✔️ Age grading and size: Brands put testing, reasoning and science behind their age grading. If a toy is for 6 months+, your 3-month-old will likely be frustrated by it or completely uninterested. Any toy for ages 3 years or older might include small pieces, which are choking hazards and must be completely avoided during infancy. Our advice: Though you might buy ahead in baby clothing sizes, like getting your 6-month-old some 12-month bodysuits, stick to toys that correspond to your child's age the day you buy them. Toys can age up, potentially being fun for years, but don't age down. (Your baby's reaching for their toddler sibling's toys notwithstanding.) ✔️ Materials and appearance: "Find toys of different shapes, sounds, textures and colors for babies to explore," Rothman says. Infants learn so much by first staring at toys and are especially drawn to ones with contrasting colors, such as toys in black and white. Then sometime between 3 months and 9 months, they will begin tasting, smelling, shaking and generally mauling their toys to learn all they can. We like wooden toys and those made from materials such as organic cotton, but toys made from plastic are easier to clean and sterilize. Read each toy's care instructions. We also have the Good Housekeeping Institute's advice for the best way to clean toys. ✔️ Age-appropriate challenges: While newborns won't do much more than gaze at toys you hang near them, within a few weeks you can try moving a toy across their line of vision to see if they track it with their eyes. It's a very early form of playing together and your baby might only be able to do it for a short bit before needing a break and looking away. You should begin to hand age-appropriate toys to your infant by about 3 months. "It's about reaching, grasping for objects, shaking, banging, using both hands together, mouthing materials to get information and building their sensory database," Rothman says. Once your baby is older than 6 months, you can look for toys that invite them to spin things, empty small toys out of a larger one and build. "At around 8 months, a baby's sense of object permanence will make hiding, looking and finding objects exciting," Rothman says. "That's why shape sorters and pulling toys out of something is so fun and elicits curiosity." ✔️ Opportunities to interact: Although babies benefit from exploring a toy on their own, it's also great when a toy sparks ideas for how you can play together. "It's about bonding with caregivers and having back-and-forth interactions," Rothman says. "You can babble and sing together." A few ideas to try:• Point to a toy and name it.• Play with the toy "wrong," like putting it on your head, to make your baby laugh.• Use a toy to entice your baby to reach for it or crawl over to it, and let them experience the success of getting to it.• Narrate what your baby does with a toy, to build their vocabulary, such as "I see you putting that round rattle in your mouth."• If the toy says phrases and sounds, repeat them and add some vocabulary, as in, "It said that's the letter A. That's the letter for 'apple.'"Guidelines on baby milestones You can track your infant's development by watching how they play with you and their toys. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, together with the American Academy of Pediatrics, list these and other infant milestones with their corresponding age markers. Talk with your pediatrician if you think your baby is missing milestones. Every baby is different, but in general (and as it pertains to play) progression looks like this: At 2 months, your baby: • Calms down when spoken to or picked up • Looks at your face • Makes sounds other than crying • Reacts to loud sounds • Looks at a toy for several seconds • Holds head up when on tummy • Moves both arms and both legs • Opens hands briefly At 4 months, your baby: • Smiles on their own to get your attention • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention • Makes sounds back when you talk to them • Turns head toward the sound of your voice • Holds head steady when you are holding them • Holds a toy when you put it in their hand • Uses arms to swing at toys • Brings hands to mouth • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy At 6 months, your baby: • Likes to look at themself in a mirror• Takes turns making sounds with you • Blows 'raspberries' (sticks tongue out and blows) • Squeals • Puts things in their mouth• Reaches to grab a toy• Rolls from tummy to back • Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy• Leans on hands to support themself sitting At 9 months, your baby: • Expresses being happy, sad, angry, and surprised• Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo• Makes a lot of different sounds like 'mamamama' and 'bababababa' • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight • Bangs two things together • Gets to a sitting position by themself • Moves things from one hand to her other hand• Sits without supportWhy trust Good Housekeeping? Experts at the Institute have been evaluating consumer products for 120 years. The Good Housekeeping Institute parenting pros test everything for babies, kids and teens. See our annual Parenting Awards as well as our Family Travel Awards for more great products for your family. Former Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman is particularly passionate about children's development through play. She sat on the ASTM toy safety committee for more than a decade for and is a Play Ambassador for the Toy Industry Genius of Play program, and she reviewed this story. This article was written by Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn, who has covered the toy market for 25 years, previously for American Baby magazine as well as Parents magazine. She's one of the judges of the annual Best Toy Awards and keeps up with the year's hottest toys. You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
15 Behaviors That Show You Take Your Partner Totally For Granted
When you're in a long-term relationship, it's easy to start taking your partner for granted without even realizing it. Little habits creep in and suddenly, the person you cherish might feel like a part of the background. If you've ever wondered if you're guilty of this, you're not alone. Here are 15 habits that may show you're taking your partner for granted—and some food for thought on how to change that. When was the last time you genuinely thanked your partner for something small, like making dinner or picking up groceries? If you can't remember, it might be a sign that gratitude is missing from your daily routine. Expressing thanks is important because it acknowledges your partner's efforts and shows that you notice the little things. According to Dr. John Gottman, a renowned relationship researcher, expressing appreciation is key to a successful relationship because it reinforces positive behaviors. On the flip side, if you start noticing that you rarely hear "thank you" from your partner, it might be time for a conversation. Open communication can break the cycle of taking each other for granted and help both of you feel more appreciated. Consider setting aside a moment each day to share what you're grateful for. This small habit can have a big impact on the health of your relationship. Missing birthdays, anniversaries, or other significant dates might seem minor, but it can hurt your partner more than you realize. Forgetting these milestones sends a message that your relationship isn't a priority on your radar. While it's normal to get busy, taking simple steps to remember these dates can prevent unnecessary tension. Use calendar reminders or set a joint planning session to keep track of what's coming up. A forgotten anniversary could lead to feeling undervalued, which might push your partner to withdraw emotionally. Don't let the forgotten dates pile up; each one is an opportunity lost to celebrate your relationship. Acknowledging these days doesn't need to be extravagant—a heartfelt note or a quiet dinner can create meaningful memories. It's about the thoughtfulness, not the size of the gesture. Do you find yourself cutting in when your partner is sharing a story, eager to add your own twist or finish their sentences? Interrupting can signal that you aren't fully interested in what they're saying, making them feel sidelined. Effective listening is crucial for maintaining a strong connection, as noted by communication expert Dr. Julia Wood. When you let your partner finish their thoughts, you show that you respect their voice and value what they have to say. If this is a common pattern, it can erode the quality of your conversations over time. Practice active listening by focusing entirely on your partner when they're speaking, and avoid thinking about your response while they're talking. This simple shift in behavior can improve your communication dynamics significantly. It fosters a sense of validation and can deepen your emotional intimacy. While it's healthy to lean on your partner, relying solely on them for all your emotional needs can become overwhelming. It puts a lot of pressure on them to be your constant support system, potentially leading to burnout. Diversifying your support network to include friends, family, or even a therapist can alleviate this pressure. It allows your partner to be a part of your support system without being the entirety of it. This doesn't mean you shouldn't share your feelings with your partner; open communication is vital. However, balancing your emotional needs across various relationships can enhance your bond. It can give both of you the space to breathe and grow individually, enriching your connection. Remember, a strong partnership thrives when both individuals are emotionally resilient and balanced. Assuming you already know what your partner wants or needs can be a slippery slope. It stops you from actually understanding their current feelings or desires, leading to missed opportunities for connection. Dr. Terri Orbuch, a psychologist and relationship expert, suggests that asking questions keeps the lines of communication open and prevents misunderstandings. Being curious about your partner's needs shows that you care and are invested in their happiness. Making assumptions can also lead to unnecessary conflicts if your guesses are off the mark. Instead, ask direct questions to clarify any uncertainties and get a true sense of what your partner is thinking. This practice not only helps in avoiding misunderstandings but also demonstrates respect for your partner's perspective. It nurtures a more transparent and fulfilling relationship dynamic. When life gets busy, quality time with your partner can easily fall by the wayside. It becomes something you assume will happen naturally, rather than intentionally planning for it. This oversight can make your partner feel neglected, as if they're not a priority in your life. Consistently carving out time to be together, without distractions, can reaffirm your commitment to the relationship. Quality time doesn't mean elaborate dates every weekend; it's about being present and engaging with each other. Whether it's a simple walk in the park or a home-cooked meal, these moments help to strengthen your bond. Prioritizing this time shows that despite the chaos of life, your relationship remains a focal point. It's a commitment to nurturing the love you share, week in and week out. Do you find yourself pointing out your partner's flaws more often than their strengths? Criticism can erode your partner's self-esteem and create tension in the relationship. Maintaining a positive perspective is crucial for lasting relationships. When compliments outweigh criticism, it fosters a supportive and loving environment. Focusing on the negatives can blind you to the things that initially drew you to your partner. Make it a habit to acknowledge their positive traits and contributions, even the small ones. This shift can transform your relationship dynamic and make your partner feel cherished. A little positivity can go a long way in reinforcing a strong and healthy bond. Nobody enjoys uncomfortable conversations, but avoiding them can create distance between you and your partner. When you sidestep these discussions, it leaves issues unresolved, causing them to fester and grow. Avoidance can make your partner feel as though you don't care enough to work through challenges together. Tackling tough topics head-on shows your willingness to invest in the future of your relationship. Approaching difficult conversations with empathy and openness can lead to stronger mutual understanding. Listen actively and validate your partner's feelings, even if you don't initially agree. Expressing your own perspective without blame or judgment encourages productive dialogue. Overcoming obstacles together can bring you closer and build a more resilient partnership. Celebrating each other's successes, no matter the size, is a fundamental aspect of a healthy relationship. If you find yourself deflecting or minimizing your partner's accomplishments, it might be time to reevaluate your approach. Downplaying achievements can make your partner feel unsupported and undervalued. Recognize their successes with genuine enthusiasm to show your pride and encouragement. Your partner's wins are opportunities to strengthen your connection by offering support and admiration. Whether they've earned a promotion or completed a personal goal, celebrating together enhances your emotional bond. Sharing joy in these moments creates lasting memories and deepens your relationship. It reinforces the idea that you're a team, and their happiness is your happiness too. A simple 'How was your day?' might seem trivial, but it's a question that holds a lot of weight. If you're not regularly checking in on your partner's day, it can signal a lack of interest in their daily life. Engaging in these small conversations shows you care and are invested in their well-being. It's a moment to connect, empathize, and support each other amid the daily grind. Skipping this check-in can lead to feeling disconnected over time, as if you're living parallel lives instead of shared ones. Make it a practice to set aside a few minutes each day to genuinely listen to your partner. This small act strengthens your emotional intimacy and lets them know they're valued. It's a simple habit with a profound impact on your relationship's health. Ignoring your partner's likes and dislikes can send a message that their preferences don't matter. This can happen in everyday decisions, like choosing what to watch or where to eat. Consistently disregarding their choices can lead to feelings of invisibility and resentment. Acknowledging their preferences shows that you respect their individuality and value their input. Being mindful of what your partner enjoys fosters a sense of mutual respect and consideration. It reinforces the idea that both of you have a say in the relationship dynamic. Make an effort to incorporate their preferences into your routine, balancing it with your own. This practice builds a foundation of equality and reinforces the partnership at the heart of your relationship. Keeping track of who did what can turn your relationship into a transactional exchange rather than a partnership. If you find yourself tallying up favors or tasks, it could indicate a lack of trust or appreciation. A relationship thrives on mutual generosity, not on keeping tabs of who owes whom. Focusing on giving rather than receiving fosters a healthier and more generous dynamic. Scorekeeping can create an atmosphere of competition rather than collaboration. Instead of counting favors, recognize and appreciate your partner's contributions genuinely. Shifting your mindset to one of gratitude and teamwork can defuse tension and build a stronger bond. It's about creating a partnership where both of you contribute willingly and with love. When work, hobbies, or other responsibilities regularly take precedence over your partner, it can leave them feeling sidelined. Balancing life demands is challenging, but consistently placing other commitments above your relationship can cause strain. It sends a message that your partner is an afterthought rather than a priority. Finding a balance is essential to maintaining a healthy and fulfilling relationship. This doesn't mean you should drop everything for your partner, but rather find ways to integrate them into your life. Prioritize time for both your commitments and your relationship, showing that both are important to you. This balance demonstrates that your partner holds a valued place in your life. It's about integrating love and responsibilities in a harmonious way. Invalidating your partner's emotions can lead to feelings of alienation and mistrust. If you find yourself often saying 'It's not a big deal' or 'You're overreacting,' consider the impact of these dismissals. Every emotion is valid, and acknowledging this is crucial for a supportive relationship. Empathy and understanding go a long way in strengthening your bond. Instead of dismissing their feelings, try to understand their perspective and offer support. Engaging in empathetic listening shows your partner that their emotions matter to you. It's an opportunity to connect on a deeper level and reinforce your emotional bond. Validating their feelings builds trust and creates a safe space for open communication. Physical touch is a fundamental way to express love and affection, and neglecting it can affect your relationship's intimacy. If you rarely initiate hugs, kisses, or other forms of physical affection, it might leave your partner feeling unloved. This doesn't mean you need grand gestures; even small, everyday touches can convey warmth and connection. Regular physical affection reinforces the emotional bond and deepens your intimacy. Neglecting physical connection can lead to feeling emotionally distant, as if you're more like roommates than partners. Make a conscious effort to incorporate physical affection into your daily routine. It's about creating moments of closeness that remind your partner of your love and commitment. These gestures nurture your relationship, keeping the spark alive and thriving.d
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man Cuts Ties with Parents After They Consistently Drop Devastating News on His Milestone Days
One man's parents have repeatedly chosen to share devastating news during his biggest milestones, from school plays to birthdays After years of feeling unheard and emotionally sidelined, he stopped communicating with them when he left for college Though his parents called him 'petty,' his siblings support his decision and believe their parents are in denialA man turns to the Reddit community for support after his decision to distance himself from his parents, sharing a lifetime of painful experiences that have left him feeling isolated and misunderstood. The 21-year-old, who is the oldest of three siblings, writes in his post, 'This was a long running thing with my parents and something my siblings (19 and 17) commented on.' From a young age, he says his parents have made 'weird decisions about breaking bad news,' often choosing moments that were supposed to be special for him to share devastating updates. He recalls, 'It started when I was 7. I was the lead in our school play and 20 minutes before the play [started] my parents decided to announce [that] my great grandma was dying.' The news, which his parents had known for days, left him in tears and unable to perform. 'I messed up the whole play and couldn't get a single line right." he writes. The pattern continued as he grew older, with his parents delivering difficult news at the worst possible times. 'When I was 9 it was the day of my assessment for learning disabilities. My parents announced on the way home that dad had lost his job 3 weeks prior so they could have waited another day or two to tell us and we'd have to make a lot of changes in our lives.' He confesses that, as a child, he wondered if his parents 'saw my learning disabilities as a burden on top of everything and resented me for it.' Even joyful occasions were overshadowed by heartbreaking revelations. On the morning of his 10th birthday party, his parents told him "they had to put our dog down two days before and had not sent him to our grandparents house for a few days to not have him running around during the party.' Instead of celebrating, he was left grieving a beloved pet he never got to say goodbye to. The trend of delivering bad news on significant days didn't stop as he entered his teenage years. 'They announced they were getting a divorce on my 15th birthday,' he reveals, adding another painful memory to a growing list of ruined milestones. Perhaps the most shocking incident came when his mother waited until his graduation to share her cancer diagnosis. 'She'd known for two months. Just waited and again on a day important for me.' He describes feeling blindsided and unable to process the news during a moment that should have been filled with pride and accomplishment. After moving out for college, he decided to 'drop the rope' with his parents, choosing not to call or text them. 'I didn't even check in on mom. I spoke to my siblings every day, sometimes twice a day. But I didn't invest in my relationship with my parents," he says. He made a conscious choice to spend holidays and breaks elsewhere, building a new support system and focusing on his own well-being. His parents, he says, initially thought he was 'just being a typical first time college kid,' but as time went on, his absence became more noticeable. The reality hit home when they saw on Instagram that he had moved into an apartment with friends and was putting down roots in a new city. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Eventually, his parents confronted him about the growing distance. 'They brought up the elephant in the room and I was honest. They asked me why I never talked to them about it and I said it wasn't something I should have to bring up because they weren't announcing things as they happened.' He told them, 'they didn't forget when my birthday was or that I was 10 minutes away from performing in the school play. And the lack of sensitivity made them less approachable.' His parents accused him of being 'petty' for pulling away, but his siblings see things differently. 'My siblings think they're just heavily in denial,' he writes. Now he's wondering if his decision to step back from his parents is justified after years of feeling that his most important days were overshadowed by bad news. Commenters are offering empathy. "Enjoy your peace. Your folks use you as an emotional punching bag and you're under no obligation to allow them to do that to you," writes one. Adds another, "This is a petty speculation, not advice- I wonder how they'd react if you fibbed that you had an upcoming celebration. Would they try to ruin it, then get confused when you don't react? Like, they must get some kind of sick kick out of what they're doing." Read the original article on People
