Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Discuss the problem privately to determine the root of the issue. Treat criticisms like they’re advice and reply softly. Call her out when she crosses the line to create boundaries.

Answer: Offer to take your mother-in-law out for coffee or lunch and ask to discuss the issue when the two of you sit down. Start by explaining that you aren’t angry or upset, but simply want to understand why she’s being so critical. There may be an underlying issue that is bothering her, and discussing the problem in a collaborative way will get you closer to solving the problem. Start by making it about you. Say, “I’d love to sit down with you and talk through something that’s been bothering me lately.” This will make it seem like you have a problem, not her, and will prevent a potential argument. If your mother-in-law critiques your style or beliefs, play her comments off like she’s making a suggestion, not an objective comment. This will undermine your mother-in-law’s comments by making them seem like they’re entirely a matter of opinion. It will also relieve tension a little bit by making it easier to move on in the conversation. “I guess I’ll have to think about that,” “That’s an interesting perspective,” and, “I see where you’re coming from, let me think about it,” are good responses that will make it seem like there’s nothing more to say. If your mother-in-law comments or critiques something relating to your religion, culture, political beliefs, or class, create a firm boundary by calling her out. If you consistently show her that you’re unwilling to tolerate her comments, she’ll be forced to confront her unfair beliefs and defend them. If she doesn’t want to do that, which is the more likely response, she’ll simply lay off of the sensitive subjects. Be firm, but respectful. For example, if your mother-in-law says you need to start going to church, say, “I don’t criticize your religious beliefs and you have no right to criticize mine. I will not tolerate you tearing me down. Please stop now and we can move on.”


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Connect your MP3 player to your computer via USB. Locate the folder where you store music on your computer. Prepare to copy the music files to your MP3 player. Drag and drop music into your MP3 player's music folder. Remove your MP3 player properly to avoid corrupting data.

Answer: Most MP3 players connect using a mini- or micro-USB cable, which are common and cheap to buy. One probably came with your MP3 player. Double-click the folder to open it. On Windows, click Start → My Computer → the name of your MP3 player. On Mac, removable devices such as your MP3 player will appear on the desktop. Double-click your MP3 player to open it. If you don't see your device, click the smiley-face "Finder" icon at the bottom of your screen and look for your device under "Devices" on the left-hand side of the screen. The name of your device's music folder may vary. Most simply use "Music". Don't just unplug your USB player when you finish copying over files.  On Windows, right-click the green check mark in the lower-right corner of your screen, then click "Eject" followed by the name of your device. On Mac, open Finder and click the "Eject" button next to the name of your MP3 player.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Give your characters unique gifts or abilities. Determine the physical and psychological traits of your characters. Create a quest or mission for your characters. Make sure your characters have internal conflict and external conflict.

Answer: One of the joys of writing dark fantasy is that you are able to give your characters unique gifts or abilities. Having a main character who is unique or strange in some way will help to deepen her character and distinguish her from other characters in the story. Your main character may be the only one with these gifts or she may be surrounded by characters who also have gifts or abilities, but use them in different ways. Often, dark fantasy has characters with dark gifts that lead to trouble, conflict, and pain.  For example, maybe your main character can communicate with the dead. This ability then leads her to communicate with the spirit of a dead Queen who pulls her into a fantastical world. Or, maybe your character is born half mutant, half human and must struggle to find her place in a world that views humans as lesser than or second class. You can also use your character's special abilities to create conflict and tension in the story, as she may be able to do things others cannot do or she may be ostracized for her abilities by others. It may help you get a better sense of your characters by writing down their physical and psychological traits. This is known as a character profile, where you outline the basic details and traits of your characters in a list or chart form. You can then use the profile to help you better imagine how a character might act in a scene or respond to a conflict.  Your character profiles may include basic information on physical traits, such as height, weight, race, eye color, hair color, and any distinguishing features. You may also include psychological traits on your characters, such as their intelligence level, their educational background, their strengths and weaknesses, and their level of self confidence. You can also use the physical and psychological traits of your characters to create conflict and tension in your story. Having distinguishing features may lead to the character being outcast or highly regarded in the world of your story. Using these features as a character trait and as an element in the plot of the story will allow you to cover two story essentials in one swoop. Most dark fantasy novels are driven by a quest or mission, where your characters must face challenges and tests to achieve their goal. Though not every quest needs to be epic in scale or have global consequences, it does need to feel epic to your characters. Setting up a mission for your characters to fulfill will help your story to move forward with intensity and purpose, giving your readers motivation to read on. You may set up an epic mission for your main character or characters, where they must return a sacred object to its rightful place in order to save the human race from extinction. Or, you may set up a more intimate mission for your characters, where they must help a ghost correct a mistake in the past so the ghost can move on. No matter the level of the mission, having a mission in your story will give your story stakes and a deeper sense of meaning. Though most dark fantasy focuses on an external conflict, such as a mission, quest, or goal, good dark fantasy also focuses on internal conflict. They might be scarred by something in their past or fear to touch someone, maybe even have strong depression.Your characters should be motivated by internal issues they are dealing with as well as events happening in the world around them. Having this balance will help you create well-rounded, believable characters that your reader can empathize with. For example, maybe your main character is a young girl who can commune with ghosts and is trying to help a dead queen fix a mistake in a past world. Her internal conflict may be that she does not know how to control her abilities and is afraid of not being able to make it back to her present world and her family in the present world. This internal conflict should then interact with her external conflict or ability to complete her mission.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Maintain realistic expectations. Turn ordinary events into lessons. Require prompt action. Practice at home. Give him an outlet. Reward and affirm positive behavior.

Answer:
Understand that boys are capable of different behaviors at different ages. Before you get frustrated with what your son can and cannot do, ask yourself if you are expecting too much from a boy who is still too young.  For example, from ages 1 through 3, boys should be able to learn the basics about manners. These basics include simple tasks like saying "please" and "thank you." Matters that require you to teach your son about being considerate will usually need to wait until age 5 or 6, though. At that point, you can have your son perform tasks like clearing the table or making eye contact as he speaks.  You also need to be mindful of your son's personality. If your son is naturally on the quiet side, do not pressure him to be more outgoing than he feels comfortable with. Adding pressure to the process may backfire and cause him to rebel. There are learning opportunities around every corner. Whether you are out on the town or at home, when the change to teach him some form of gentlemanly behavior pops up, make the most of it. Do not rely solely on planned lessons. For instance, if a stranger in a store suddenly starts using rude language within an earshot of your son, ask your son to tell you why that sort of language shouldn't be used and do a quick review on saying polite words like "please," "I'm sorry," and "thank you." When you son is young, make sure that the lessons you give him can be completed within a short period of time. Do not allow him to put things off until a later time. Instead, insist that whatever you have instructed him to do will be done at that moment. For example, if you tell your son to put away his toys, make sure that he does so right after you tell him. You might be tempted to be a little lax on your instructions in the privacy of your own home, but if you expect him to be a gentleman to the outside world, you must first insist that he is a gentleman at home. Giving him constructive ways to use that energy can prevent blow-ups and sudden fits of misbehavior. If your son has an interest in physical activities, consider getting him involved in sports of some sort. On the other hand, if his energy is more of the creative sort, give him opportunities to stimulate his mind and curiosity. When your son acts in a pleasing manner, it is absolutely crucial that you let him know he did well. This is important no matter what age your son is and at what stage of the growing process he's in. Affirmative words are the simplest form of reward, and in some ways, they can be the most effective. This is true when your son is in his toddler stage straight through to adulthood. When your five-year-old son makes his bed without being asked, tell him how pleased you are and how proud you feel. Similarly, when your 16-year-old son refuses to cave into peer pressure by cheating on a test or bullying a kid who gets picked on by his other peers, praise him and tell him how immensely proud you are of his decision.