Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Let your spouse take the lead.  Be assertive Pick your battles. Don’t waver on your boundaries.

Answer: When it comes time to discussing the matter with your in-law, follow your spouse’s lead. It’s their family and they know how to bring up the topic in the most appropriate way. During a disagreement, request that your spouse lead the charge. Of course, you can take part in the discussion, just let them broach the subject with their family first before saying your part. Your in-laws will probably feel less attacked by your spouse. when communicating your boundaries. Have your spouse voice the boundaries you have decided are important to you. Do so calmly and assertively, without backing down or negotiating. Your spouse might say something like, “Dad, we’re not interested in having the children baptized. We want to wait until they’re older and let them decide on their religious beliefs. Please respect our decision.” When it comes to family, you’ll have to learn how to choose your battles based on what’s most important. Don’t go to war with your spouse or their family about every single issue that arises. Let some minor issues slide in order to focus on the bigger issues. For example, you might overlook the fact that your sister-in-law gave your children soda (which is typically off-limits) just once. However, if she lets your children watch violent or offensive movies, you might have a word with her about it. While you might overlook minor problems, stand firm on what matters the most. If you have communicated a boundary to your in-laws and it’s violated, enforce the boundary by setting consequences. For example, if your sister-in-law lets your children watch inappropriate movies again, you might set the consequence that she is no longer able to spend time with them if you or your spouse are not present.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Track your progress so you can see how far you’ve come. Celebrate your small achievements to encourage you to keep going. Use positive self-talk to make you feel confident. Surround yourself with people who motivate you. Treat your failures as a lesson so you keep improving.

Answer: You may not realize how much progress you’re making if you don’t track it. Try different ways of tracking yourself to see what works for you. Here are some ideas:  Put a star on your calendar for days you work on your goal. Post progress pics online. Tell your friend about your progress. Keep a goal diary to track what you’re doing. Keep a list of your milestone accomplishments. It usually takes a while to achieve a big goal. However, you’ll likely achieve a lot of small goals along the way. Make a point to celebrate each time you accomplish a small step on your journey toward your goal. This will remind you that you’re making progress and will help you stay on track. For instance, if you want to run a marathon, you might celebrate each time you finish a shorter race, such as 5k, 10k, and half-marathon runs. How you talk to yourself can have a lot of impact on what you’re able to accomplish. Tell yourself supportive statements, and challenge any negative thoughts you have. You might even try using positive affirmations.  Tell yourself things like, “I can do this,” “I’m making so much progress,” and “I can do anything I set my mind to.” If you catch yourself thinking something like, “This is too hard,” challenge it. Tell yourself, “I’ve done hard things in the past, and I can do this, too.” Identify the people in your life who make you feel upbeat and capable of reaching your goals. Additionally, look for new friends who share similar goals. Spend more time with these individuals because they’ll help you maintain your motivation. Consider spending less time with people who try to bring you down. If someone doesn’t support your goals, they likely aren’t a good friend for you. Making a mistake feels awful, but it’s a normal part of the process toward success. Everyone experiences failure, and sometimes it’s the only way for you to learn how to do something right. When you mess up, try to find the lesson in what happened. Then, try again.  For example, let’s say you audition for a role in a play but don’t get picked. You might talk to the director to find out how your audition could be better. Similarly, you might try to run a marathon but not be able to finish. This experience might make you realize you need to change your training regimen.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Know what winter in NYC is like. Wear clothes that will keep you warm. Remember--a fashionable, warm jacket goes a long way in NYC. Be prepared for snow. Consider your winter footwear.

Answer: Winter in the city is cold and, more often than not, wet. Snow and sleet grace the streets of New York City throughout December, January, and February. The wind also picks up a bit more in the winter, whipping the chilly air and (potentially) getting your clothes wet. Long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, and pants are the way to go when tromping around NYC in the winter. Go for clothes in darker colors and heavier fabrics. Black is the number one color of the winter in NYC. A winter coat is a must during this time of year.   For women: While pants will keep you warmer, it is also fashionable to wear black spandex pants with over-sized sweaters or cool, bulky jackets. You can also get away with a dress or skirt and some thick stockings--just be prepared to be a bit cold when sightseeing if you choose to wear a dress.  For men: Sweaters or thick long-sleeve shirts and nice, warm pants are the way to go. There are plenty of warm winter coats that also look stylish--you should buy one of these if you want to look like a New Yorker. Run a search on your favorite image browser to get an idea of what kind of coats might are in this season. Carry the jacket onto your plane with you--you will want it as soon as you step out of the airport in New York (and they take up way too much luggage space.) Gloves, scarves, and a hat are a must when the snow (or, God forbid, sleet) starts coming down. Waterproof jackets are a great way to go--they’re not the most fashionable things in the world, but you will be happy you brought that waterproof, super warm jacket when things get icy. Invest in some waterproof boots. Whether they are trendy-looking or just standard winter boots, you will not regret them. When it’s not wet outside, you can wear fashionable boots that afford a little less warmth and protection--just wear some warm socks.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Find a check casher. Cash your check. Pay bills through the check casher.

Answer:
A check cashier is a store whose main purpose is to cash checks for people. Of course, most of them charge a small (and sometimes not-so-small) fee to cash the check so they can stay in business. If possible, call a few in your area first to figure out which one has the lowest fee. These businesses are most often found in low-income areas, as people in those areas are less likely to have bank accounts. Often, you will need to cash your check before you can move ahead with paying bills, though with some prepaid debit cards, you can add your check directly to your account. However, if you want to use something like a money order, you'll need to have cash on hand first. Though in some cases, you may want to use a money order or a prepaid credit card, check cashiers will also sometimes pay bills for you, again for a fee. You just need your account information for bills like your electric or water, including how much you need to pay. The check cashier will cash your check and then pay the bill from some of the money.