As difficult as it may be to come to terms with, the first step to reconciling with your estranged parents is acknowledging the part you may have played in losing touch with them to begin with.  Don’t blame yourself for the rift that developed, but be willing to acknowledge and accept that some of the blame may be yours for the time you’ve spent apart. The only way you and your parents will be able to reconcile is if you are each willing to shoulder some of the responsibility. It can be difficult to empathize with the pain of estranged parents.  You may still have some very difficult feelings to work through, and when something or someone hurts you, it can be difficult to see beyond our own pain.  Remember that sometimes the decisions we make when we’re hurt aren’t always good ones. Losing touch with a child can be especially painful, even if they don’t act like they’ve been hurt.  Remember that not seeing the pain doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. Understanding what your parents were going through when you stopped communicating can help you forgive them, and appreciating what they may be experiencing now will make it easier to find common ground when you meet.  Your parents may have been experiencing a low point in their lives when you stopped talking.  Remember that parents are nothing more than people, and people struggle with internal and external challenges. All of the feelings of fear and anxiety you have about reconciling with your parents are probably going through their heads too. This is an important step that you will need to come to terms with at your own pace.  You parents may have done things that truly hurt you, but by trying to consider their perspective and acknowledging that they have felt pain regarding losing you may help you to overcome the desire to blame them.  Remember that blame won’t solve anything now, only love can.  Acknowledge that you and your parents all share at least some responsibility for losing touch, but that doesn’t mean blame needs to be assigned. Instead of placing blame, focus on the future and how good it will feel to have your parents back in your life.

Summary: Take responsibility for your part. Acknowledge that they’re hurt too. Try to understand their perspective. Move past blame.


Make sure that the employee has a written record of rules, regulations, and standards. You should also write a detailed job description so that they know what is required of them. Make a point to go over this written record in a conversation, too. That way, you can answer any questions that come up. Don’t just say, “Employees must respond to client emails as soon as possible.” Instead, set clear expectations by saying, “Client emails must be answered within 10 hours.” Tell your employee the rationale behind these expectations. If they understand why they are necessary, they’re more likely to take them seriously. You can go over this each time you need to give the employee a reminder about how to do their job. You could say, “The reason I need you to be here by 7:45 is because I trust you to open the office before other employees arrive at 8.” It’s your job to help your employees succeed, so make sure to give them the proper tools. When you explain your expectations, make sure that you have considered whether they have:  Enough knowledge Enough team members The right equipment Enough time Make sure that your employee understands what will happen if they don’t meet your expectations. Again, give them this information in writing and also follow-up with a conversation. Don’t try to threaten or scare your employee. Instead, calmly tell them what will happen if they don’t succeed. You might say, “If you fail to get me those reports on time, I’ll have to have someone else manage the project.”

Summary: Describe company policies in detail. Explain why each duty is important. Give the employee the resources they need to succeed. Outline the consequences of not meeting standards.


Place one side with the cross brace facing out flat on a table. Slide a second square against the outside of the first piece so that it is sticking up. Slide the third square on the opposite side of the square.  It might be easier to place the first square on a raised platform so you can easily slide the other sides under it. Opposite sides should have braces going in opposite directions. Liberally apply glue at each corner to attach the sides together. Let the glue sit for at least 15 minutes to set before you try to glue the final side on. Place books or weights against each side to hold everything in place while it dries.  While the glue is setting, you can start assembling other squares or cubes. You may need to hold the two pieces together, allowing the glue to set a bit before you place the books/weights to hold it in place. Once the glue has set, you can attach the final side to the cube. Slide the side over the edges of the sticks and make sure that the brace is facing the opposite direction of the side opposite it. Apply enough glue to ensure a firm seal of the joint.  Wait for everything to dry. Continue to assemble other components while waiting for glue to set. Again, you may need to hold the fourth wall in place to let the glue set so the cube will be formed properly. Repeat this whole process assembling four squares into a cube until you have enough cubes to build the tower as high as you want. Set up multiple work stations so you can build more than one cube at a time.  Each cube takes four sides, so if you want to build a tower with five floors, you will need a total of 20 sides. While your forming the cubes, try stacking them on top of each other and make sure they align properly. If they don’t, either break the cubes apart and remake them, or start with a fresh set of squares and make a new cube.

Summary: Combine three squares into three-fourths of a cube. Glue these pieces together. Attach the fourth side to the cube. Repeat to form the remaining squares into a cube.


Although age spots are normal and harmless, they can sometimes resemble skin cancer. While age spots typically remain constant over time, cancerous spots will darken and change in shape, such as growing or becoming more uneven. You can recognize potentially cancerous spots using your ABCDEs:   Asymmetric shape  Borders (edges) that are uneven  Colors that vary, such as different shades of brown, black and tan  Diameter that's large (>¼ inch or > 6mm) or changing  Evolving, such as changing in size, shape, and color It’s always better to be safe when it comes to your health. Your dermatologist can check your age spots to make sure there are no causes for concern. Additionally, they’ll help you learn what’s normal and what’s not. If you don’t have a dermatologist, ask your primary care physician for a referral or search for one online. Your doctor will numb the area around the spot before taking a skin biopsy. Then, they’ll insert a thin device or scalpel to remove a tiny piece of skin. Next, they’ll send that skin off to be tested to make sure the spot is benign. The biopsy may cause you discomfort, but you shouldn’t experience any pain. If over-the-counter bleaching creams don’t work for you, a prescription option can help. These creams can fade your age spots in a few months with regular use. For example, your doctor may prescribe a bleaching cream called hydroquinone. In some cases, they’ll pair this cream with retinoids and a mild steroid to speed up the process. If at-home treatments don’t work for you and the brown spots really bother you, there are treatments you can get in a dermatologist’s office. These treatments can be more effective than home remedies. Here are some treatments available to you:  Laser or light therapy can fade your brown spots, though you will likely need 2 or 3 sessions to see results. Cryotherapy targets the age spots with liquid nitrogen, which freezes the pigment and breaks it up. You might experience some discomfort with this treatment, and scarring can occur. Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion involve scrubbing off the top layer of your skin, which can fade your brown spots. However, you’ll likely need several treatments, and redness and scabbing can occur. Chemical peels remove the top layer of skin, which is replaced by new skin. With repeated treatments, chemical peels can fade your age spots. However, you’ll likely experience redness and discomfort.
Summary: See your doctor immediately if a spot darkens or changes shape. Consider seeing a dermatologist for a cancer-check, just in case. Get a skin biopsy if your doctor suspects a spot might be something else. Ask your doctor if a prescription bleaching cream might be right for you. Discuss options for removing persistent age spots if they really bother you.