Dr. Marissa takes a follow-up call from Tynyetta and smog checks the definition of a good mom/perfect parents and 'puts the moose on the table' about family dysfunction. Tynyetta then asks for advice on implementing her vision of capturing wisdom from her elders at a family reunion, which entails balancing her desire with an understanding that she cannot control people's reactions which leads to a strategic business lesson on implementing ideas. Dr. Marissa also turns her advice to listeners who are going home for Christmas but don't really want to...and how to resolve the anxiety that comes up when we dread the questions that might come about life disappointments and the internalized critic. Caller Robert from Memphis Tennessee gets some ideas from Dr. Marissa, the kinder gentler Dr. Laura, on staying focused on his own happiness when his ailing father won't see things his way to help himself get better. Balancing one's desire to control others and one's desire to help others is much easier to feel better about when acceptance is the answer. The alternative version of the Serenity prayer is the Balance tool: God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the people I can, and the wisdom to know that it's me! Episode sponsored by www.Selfiestation.com/DrMarissa and www.4Balance.org