Kevin Costner to become a daddy for the seventh time.
Looks like Kevin Costner is a happy “man at home.” Word is that the star of movies like Dances With Wolves, JFK, and Field of Dreams is expecting his seventh child.
Costner and his wife Christine Baumgartner Costner already have two children and their third child is due to arrive June, according to People magazine. The 55-year-old star has more children, ranging from ages 13 to 25, from previous relationships.
Building a positive relationship with those that count.
By Gary Gzik
Do you struggle at building a more positive relationship with those that you care for? It’s no secret that our society has most of us running off our feet and failing to put the proper effort into building relationships with those that matter most to us. But, it’s vitally important to spend time nurturing the bonds we have with those around us.
Most relationships require some amount of work. Some will take less effort than others and seem to take form almost instantly. But, because this rarely happens, we do need to spend time nurturing our relationships when we can. Remember, it doesn’t matter how easily your relationships take form, even the seemingly perfect relationships can have their ups and downs.
That being said, let’s explore what exactly makes for a positive relationship.
For starters, and I know this will be one of the hardest, but quality time does the trick. Whether you want a positive relationship with your significant other, your parents, your child or even a friend, you are going to have to schedule in some one on one time with them. This sounds easy at first, but if you sit back for a moment and think of all the people you’d like to do this with and then your schedule for the next couple of weeks, how easy is it really going to be? Obviously, trying to arrange time to spend together can be challenging, especially after you factor in their busy schedule as well. No matter what though, you must still try. It may be a weekly or daily arrangement, either way you need to treat it like you would an appointment. Try not to renege, especially if it’s with a child.
To ensure you enjoy the time you are spending with others, you should try and do something that’s fun. Seeing a movie together, going out for dinner, or taking a stroll in the park are things that can accomplish this. You don’t want your relationship to be boring. If you want to create a stronger bond, you need to choose something that you will both enjoy doing – not only will you have fun, it will have you looking forward to the next time you’re supposed to meet up.
Building a positive relationship with your significant other isn’t always easy. Of course you want to spend time with them, but with everyone else on your list, you know they’ll understand if you leave them till the end. When time has you struggling to get together with them, remember that your relationship goes a little deeper – and you don’t have to be together to reward from each other’s input in the relationship.
When you do have moments at home together, remember that helping out around the house is an attempt that doesn’t go unnoticed. Don’t expect to be waited on hand and foot and leave all the work for your partner. Doing chores isn’t always fun, but if you both work at them, they will be done much sooner and you will have more time to spend together later.
For those of you with busy families, sometimes it’s hard to get away and have Mom and Dad time. No matter what, you should always take a few minutes at the end of the day to sit and talk about how each other’s days went. Simply explain to your children that it is your time and you will be finished in a few minutes. Most children will cherish the idea that their parents enjoy spending time together. When you are done, ask your children to come in and join you – spend a little family time. Just remember, those few minutes with each other means putting away the cell phones and any other distractions that don’t allow you to focus on each other.
No matter who you’re building the relationship with, you need to make sure you can really talk to them. Listening to each other and showing concern will definitely help you build a stronger positive relationship with each other. Really being able to sit back, listen and understand is just as important as sharing your side of the story. Sometimes we allow distractions in or our mind starts wandering into the unknown, if this is the case, you may not be involving yourself in the conversation as much as you could be.
No matter who you’re building a positive relationship with, it will take patience and perseverance. No one said it would be easy, however the benefits you receive will be well worth the effort.
Gary Gzik is a Corporate Trainer and CEO of the business consulting company BizXcel, Inc. which owns and operates Getting to Someday, a place where people go to achieve their goals and dreams. Gary also wrote “A Journey Towards Your Dreams”, a book that inspires people to achieve their dreams through a positive attitude and positive relationships – claim your free copy today at http://www.gettingtosomeday.com/discover-positive-attitude-secret
Also, stop by today to read Gary’s other articles at http://www.gettingtosomeday.com/article. And, don’t forget to sign up for his Free Bi-Weekly Newsletter full of inspiring stories!
Ten things a woman should never say to a man.
By the time most men are 30, they’ve heard all of these comments and questions from the women in their lives — and probably more than once.
If there’s someone special in your life now, you might dare send this along to her with one of those “can you believe some men get bothered by this?” comments, just to show that you are above all this trivial guy-girl stuff. In the meantime, you will have given her something to think about and perhaps the next time she wants to call you “cute,” she’ll stifle the impulse before it gets to you.
Good luck!
1) “That looks cute.”
For the most part, men hate cute. We don’t want to hear about it, we don’t want to see it, and we sure as hell don’t want to be it. If we come down stairs after getting dressed and you tell us we look cute, there’s a 100 percent chance we’re changing. We’re supposed to be your protector, your rock, and cute does not fit into that picture.
2) “We need to talk.”
These four words shut off a man’s brain faster than long division. When men hear you say that they immediately go into flight mode. And anything they can do to get out of this conversation—and better yet, your apartment—they will. There are plenty of other ways to approach a delicate conversation, and getting us in a place where we feel comfortable is a good start.
3) “It’s just a game.”
Actually, it’s not just a game. Sports are a major part of our lives and the outcome has as much to do with our mood as just about anything else. Is it fair? No. Is it right? No. Is it immature? Maybe. But it’s life. Sometimes we just care too much. We understand that it doesn’t make sense, but you should be happy that we’re that passionate about something. Telling us that “it’s just a game” is like us telling you that Oprah’s just a talk show host.
4) “Nothing’s wrong.”
Please don’t tell us nothing’s wrong. The look on your face could make the toughest guy on the planet weep like a third-grade girl and your arms are crossed so tight you might explode. We’re not mind readers; tell us what’s going on. And don’t make us guess because—believe me—you won’t like what we come up with.
5) “I sound like my mom.”
The mere fact that you might turn into your mom someday scares the hell out of us. Don’t say it, even in jest—it’s not funny. We actually believe (and pray) that the saying “every woman ends up looking like their mother” is an old wives’ tale. If we didn’t, no one would ever get married.
6) “I just want to be friends.”
No you don’t. You just want us to stop calling you. This is a lot like pulling off a band-aid. Do it quick—don’t prolong the agony. Most of us take “I just want to be friends” as “There’s still a chance,” so if there isn’t just make it a clean break and move on. Everyone will be much better because of it.
7) “Size doesn’t matter.”
Don’t lie to us. We know it does, and we’re doing our best to make up for it in other ways. It’s best just to not say anything at all.
“What are you wearing?”
We’re wearing whatever’s clean or whatever you tell us to. We don’t plan out our wardrobe days in advance, but we do actually try and look presentable. It may not work a lot of the time, but we do give it a shot. Giving us direction is completely encouraged though, so go ahead and suggest … nicely.
9) “Do you think she’s pretty?”
Of course we do, our standards are much lower than yours. But just because we check her out doesn’t mean we think any less of you. We try to be as discreet as possible, but for the most part, we can’t help it. It’s in our DNA. When an attractive woman walks by, it’s best to just pretend nothing happened.
10) “Which outfit do you like better?”
I’m going to be honest here—90 percent of the guys out there are not going to tell you which outfit they like better: They’re going to try to pick the one you like better and not get into a holy war when the babysitter is due any minute. To us, you always look good. Getting a couple cocktails and spending as much time as we can without the kids is our ultimate goal for a rare night out.
