Meet Merrily Preston« Editors

Merrily Preston

An intentional life facilitator who lives in Woodbridge and is the author of the popular advice column "Ask Merrily," which is exclusive to Local Kicks. Preston's professional guidance enables her clients to make conscious choices that are in their best interest, so as to live an intentional life.

Articles By Merrily Preston

ASK MERRILY/Job or Freelance?

Jun 16,2010

Tomorrow I will visit the staff of a newspaper where I have applied to be the editor. I am terrified and in a tizzy over what to do if they make an offer. If I sense that it is wrong, I hope I can find the courage to say no. After leaving my job of 20 years as an editor and columnist,

ASK MERRILY/Three-Year-Old’s Request

Mar 22,2010

My three year old daughter has started to wake up in the middle of the night wanting to come to sleep on my belly. While this is very cute, I don’t want to start a new habit that we won’t be able to continue. We all get up early in the morning to get to school and work, and we all need a good night’s sleep.

ASK MERRILY/Relationship with Teenage Son

Mar 22,2010

My teenage son thinks that I am an ogre, an enemy. No matter what I say to him or how I say it, I antagonize him. I know I have made lots of mistakes as a mother, but I try. He is doing poorly in high school, and behavior is becoming a problem. My mother died recently at a relatively young age.

ASK MERRILY/ How Do I Talk to My Teenager?

Mar 22,2010

I am very worried about my teenage son. He lacks motivation and isn’t using all of his potential. His father and I do not accept grades of C or lower and are very disappointed in his grades. I don’t know how to help him and feel like a failure as a parent which is very painful.

ASK MERRILY/Earthquake

Mar 22,2010

My mom has flown to Chile for her vacation. Her plane was due to land a few hours after the earthquake. Since Chile is technologically advanced, they probably would not land the plane if there were any risk. My two grandmothers are concerned, one is frantic.

ASK MERRILY/Caretaker’s Job

Feb 22,2010

My husband has been recovering for almost a month from life-changing surgery. Things in the ICU are much the same day after day. Relentless issues continue such as excessive fluid retention, elevated white blood count, fluid from chest tubes. He was happy to finally be allowed clear fluids. But those have temporarily been taken away in hopes of resolving the above issues.

ASK MERRILY/Teen Telephone Time

Feb 03,2010

My teenage daughter spends too much time on the telephone. She comes home from high school at 2:30 and wants to do nothing but talk to her friends. Her grades used to be all A’s but are dropping. Since I get home from work at 5, I cannot monitor her use of time until then.

ASK MERRILY/Stuck in Old Patterns

Jan 28,2010

I find that my relationships get stuck in old patterns that no longer serve my best interest. I get angry when a negative pattern, which I thought was worked through with my husband, reappears. I thought I'd never have to experience it again, and I feel frustration and despair.