Fall 2012

The Holidays are Almost Here

Right around the corner, Thanksgiving will kick off the 2012 holiday season. Then, in the blink of an eye, Hanukkah, then Christmas and finally, New Years will have come and gone.

It's fall and soon the holiday season will be upon us.  Whether you are a college student or getting ready to visit your aging parent, this merge2gether issue has something for people at all stages and all ages: people who are interested in making the most out of living with one another.

To Each Its Own

Mom or Dad’s New Home

When Mom moves in, how do you make her feel welcome and at home? What are some of things that you can do? The answer depends on how much room and money you have and whether the arrangement is short-term or long-term.

Busy, Busy Lives

When two families, complete with their rules and customs, come together, accounting for everyone’s needs can be a challenge. With multiple social lives to manage, all family members will need to communicate, cooperate and compromise frequently.

Families Unite

Merging two families and households will take some creativity, sensitivity and work. First the two parents will need to determine where the whole, new, big family will live. Will one family move in with another, or will a new home need to be purchased or rented?

Food for Thought

All of us have a style, from our new shoes, to our recent haircut, to the food we cook and eat. Now that you are part of a larger, blended family that may or may not eat all its meals together, planning, preparing and cooking might be a new challenge for all of you. 

Food, Glorious Food! 

Now, we will get into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The largest, most fundamental needs involve physiological concerns, one of which is food. For all of us, meals are an important part of everyday living. Take ten minutes to assess your needs, then plan to review your findings with your partner

Two of Everything

Two hearts beat as one, but do your decorating styles do the same? Nowadays, by the time most people get married, they have a complement of furniture, appliances and decorative items. Also, most adults will have developed, for better or worse, a personal decorating style.