‘No Tax’ Relaxation With Puerto Rican Tree Frogs
• February 13, 2017

The most recent, non-important, non-urgent vacation realization to dawn on me did so on an evening walk back to my room from the Plantation House at the Bahia Beach St […]

Getaway To Stay In
• January 30, 2017

**1840s Carrollton Inn** *50 Albemarle St., Baltimore* *1840scarrolltoninn.com* Located at the center of Heritage Walk in Baltimore’s historic Jonestown neighborhood, the 1840s Carrollton Inn is within a short walk of […]

Murphy’s Love: Advice on Intimacy and Relationships
•

Dear Stacy:

I know this isn’t likely to get a response when I need it, but it’s still worth asking what you think about the disparity between husbands and wives, regarding gift-giving. The long story is that my husband totally dropped the ball with Mother’s Day. The kids had thrown together some cards from school, but he didn’t do a single thing to make the day special (besides telling me I could “sleep in,” after our kids already woke me up). Now it’s Father’s Day and I, unlike him, am thinking about it far enough in advance to even send a question to an advice column. Basically, I am 1,000 times more thoughtful than he is and I am having a hard time not “planning” to give him a horrible Father’s Day so he can see just how it feels. I know you’re going to tell me to talk to him – but what do I say? “You are a sucky partner, so I’m done making you feel special?”

-Angry in Advance

Dear Angry,
I’m really sorry you had a bad Mother’s Day. Does Husband know you had a bad Mother’s Day? And more specifically, was this something you actually said, not something you implied via passive aggressive pouting? My guess would be that no, Husband has no idea that you were expecting something that did not materialize. So yes, you need to talk to him.

But not now.

You need to wait and breathe and relax now that Father’s Day is over, and get a handle on what it is you want to say. We need to set aside the clichés about men and bad gift-giving (women actually are equally bad, btw, we just don’t get the press the guys do). You say you did not feel special – that is where we start. Many of us arrived at our first Mother’s/Father’s Days without much experience beyond rushing flowers across the country to our own parents, so please give yourselves a break about not being completely sure of what you expect and what you can give on those days. If this is important to you, then it’s important enough to use all the skills we have in the relationship to clear the air. In other words – say something non-accusatory about not feeling special on Mother’s Day. Include a line about wanting to help you both get what you need on those days in the future. Then you two can negotiate what feels right for your marriage.

Stacy Notaras Murphy www.stacymurphyLPC.com is a licensed professional counselor and certified Imago Relationship therapist, practicing in Georgetown. This column is meant for entertainment only and should not be considered a substitute for professional counseling. Send your confidential question to stacy@georgetowner.com.

NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo Draws 85,000
•

Maintaining good health doesn’t happen by accident. It means keeping physically active, making smart lifestyle choices and getting an occasional checkup and test. But staying healthy can also be fun. […]

Trumping With Style
• January 29, 2017

Can we all agree on bipartisanship when it comes to style? There is much anticipation regarding the fashion trends that will emerge with a new administration. The first lady inevitably […]

New Year, New Skin
• January 13, 2017

The start of a brand new year is a great time to review your daily skincare routine. If you’ve been stuck in a rut with the same skincare methods, it’s […]

Escape D.C. During the Inauguration
•

With the presidential inauguration set to descend on Washington, D.C., there are many who would rather avoid the congestion and crowds expected Jan. 20. Luckily, there are some great surrounding […]

‘Sexting’ Is A Wakeup Call
• December 7, 2016

Hi Stacy, My 26-year marriage has seen many ups and downs, but we love each other and adore our son. We were struggling through a major financial crisis that had […]

Radio City, Times Square, and Other Big Apple Icons
•

Still wondering where to go for the Christmas holidays? Go East, young man. Go to New York. It will seem like old-home times, or like that bar scene in a […]

Wonder Woman of Greater Georgetown
• November 9, 2016

  For some time now, we’ve been noticing with awe the rising influence of inspirational, high-achieving women throughout the Washington area. They are making their mark not only in traditional […]