The Whole Parent

Episode 4: “Something Is Emerging.” A Loving Conversation with Mark Greene

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 11, 2020
Post category:Co-Parenting / Dating / Depression / Divorce / humans of divorce / Joy / Love / Married Life / Parenting / relationship building / Relationships / Self-care / Single-Dad / Spirituality
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Come listen to an interesting conversation about masculinity, about relationships, about relationship capacity and emotional growth. Our conversation follows Mark from his experience as a man in a failing marriage, through his self-awareness process, and finally his homecoming in a long-term healthy relationship. We're going to talk about a lot of things, but at the heart is how we find and co-create a relationship with a partner.

The New Rules of Sex: Frequency, Fun, and Fantasy

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 11, 2020
Post category:Depression / Divorce / Health and Fitness / humans of divorce / Joy / Love / Married Life / Parenting / relationship building / Relationships / Self-care / Sex / Spirituality
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Keeping sexual communication open throughout your relationship is critical. As one partner starts closing off, and not just having periods of low sexual desire, but shutting down the idea of sex, something is going to break down.

In the Birthday Cake of the Present Moment You Have Three Choices

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 8, 2020
Post category:Anger / Depression / Health and Fitness / humans of divorce / Joy / Love / Money / Self-care / Single-Dad / Spirituality
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If we can rise above our present distress and the distractions of our disappointments, we can appreciate all the layers of the present moment. It's all cake. It may not all be delicious. But our attitude about the cake colors every one of our present moments. It's our attitude about the cake we're being served that gives us the freedom from suffering.

The Soft Return: How Repair Works in Relationships

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 8, 2020
Post category:Anger / Dating / Depression / humans of divorce / Joy / Love / relationship building / Relationships / Self-care / Spirituality
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If I believe in a higher plan, if I want to navigate with star maps and not treasure maps, then I can be IN LOVE and AT PEACE even in this painful pause. The pain has a lesson for me. I may learn something new every morning and every evening. I am learning.

Countdown to Ecstasy: I Know You Want Me To Be Happy

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 8, 2020
Post category:Co-Parenting / Dating / Health and Fitness / Joy / Love / relationship building / Relationships / Self-care / Sex / Single-Dad / Spirituality
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The last two relationships, as painful as the endings were, and as devastating as the loneliness was as I confronted being alone again, both taught me valuable lessons. And this is not a silver lining strategy or rationalization.

There Is No Rescue Coming For You – Love on the Air Episode 3

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 7, 2020
Post category:Anger / Dating / Depression / Love / relationship building / Relationships / Self-care / Single-Dad / Spirituality
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We cannot rescue another person. We should not try. We can stand beside them, or just outside the perimeter of their burning building, and let them know we are holding loving-kindness for them. It's painful, to be in the gap. But sometimes, it's just where we are.

Five Reasons to Slow Your Roll when Dating: Sex and Dating

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 7, 2020
Post category:Co-Parenting / Dating / Health and Fitness / Joy / Love / Relationships / Self-care / Sex / Single-Dad / Spirituality
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Live some life together, out of the bedroom, and see how the relationship part of the partnership goes. It will become obvious if there are lifestyle or emotional differences. And when you keep the raging hormones at bay you can see this person without the rose-colored glasses.

Patience, Mindfulness, and the Slow Road to a Healthy Relationship

Post author:John McElhenney
Post published:February 6, 2020
Post category:Dating / Depression / Health and Fitness / humans of divorce / Joy / Love / relationship building / Relationships / Self-care / Spirituality
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My movie is undergoing a serious rewrite at the moment. Scenes are being deleted, edited, and new actors are being sought out for both lead and supporting roles. Today, on this amazingly beautiful day (from snow last night to tennis in shorts this afternoon) I'm going to loaf for a bit.