Q: A major issue with passive-aggressive people is they don't have effective communication techniques, so they bottle things up and feel resentment. By talking more regularly with your mom about light and serious topics you can establish healthier patterns of communicating. For example, try asking for her advice on everyday situations, like how to cook something properly. Sometimes, passive aggressive people don't feel like they have a voice. Try being extra attentive to your mom when she's talking. Doing so may help her feel more validated and reduce her passive-aggression. When listening, make eye contact, don't interrupt, and try to repeat what she said in a different way afterwards to make sure you understand. Since your mom has a negative way of communicating with others, she probably expects you to disagree with everything she says. Shake things up and find a way to agree with her. For instance, you might say, "You know, I never thought about it that way." This doesn't mean you agree with her wholeheartedly, but it validates her feelings a little. Therefore, she'll be more likely to lower her guard when interacting with you. This strategy can be used when your mom is actively engaging in passive-aggressive behavior and when she's not. If you're trying to build healthy communication with your mom, don't ask closed-ended questions in which she's able to respond with a "yes" or "no" answer, and ultimately shut down. This also prevents you from feeling like you have to pull teeth in order to get her to talk. For example, instead of saying "Mom, did you like the movie?," say "Mom, what did you think about the movie?"
A: Make talking a part of your normal routine. Practice active listening. Surprise her and agree. Ask open-ended questions.

Q: We do this in English as well. For example, you would say "I run," but you would add and "s" for "he runs." Conjugation in French works similarly; for every pronoun (I, he, she, it, we, you) there is a different conjugation. There are more French pronouns then English, but they are still easy to remember: Je: I Tu: You Il, elle, on: He, she, it Nous: We Vous: You (plural or formal) Ils, elles: They (male), they (female). An unconjugated verb is called the "infinitive." In English you simply at the word "to," so the infinitive is "to be," "to see," or "to write." In French the infinitive is one word -- like "aller" (to go), "ouvrir" (to open) or "repondre" (to respond). The infinitive is the base verb, or what changes as you conjugate. For example, in English you would not say, "He to be," you would say "he is." This is how we conjugate the verb "to be" in English. In French the large majority of verbs fall under three categories based on the ending of the infinitive. For each of these three categories there is a set of rules for conjugation. -er Verbs: This includes verbs like "parler" (to talk) and "manger" (to eat). -ir Verbs: This includes verbs like "applaudir" (to clap) and "finir" (to finish). -re Vebrs: This includes verbs like "entendre" (to hear). There are, unfortunately, some verbs in French that no longer use the same rules to conjugate. Almost every tense of these verbs is different, so you often have to look irregular verbs up separately. While by no means exhaustive, this list shows some of the most common irregular verbs: etre: To be Avoir: To have Aller: To go Vouloir: To want Faire: To make, to do Mettre: To put, to place.
A: Know that conjugation is when you change a verb based on who it involves. Remember the French pronouns. Note the infinitive of verbs. Recognize the three types of "regular" verbs. Know what verbs are irregular.

Q: Heightened emotions can sometimes get in the way when you're trying to deal with a high-stress situation. For example, if you've got to give a big speech or presentation, fear might cloud your ability to think clearly and execute your delivery. Knowing how to mute that sense of fear can come in handy when you have to overcome challenges at work and school. Emotions have a role to play in decision-making, but sometimes it's important to set them aside and assess other factors. For example, maybe you feel devastated after a breakup and are tempted to move to a new city so you don't have to see your ex. If you're able to see beyond the sadness and weigh other factors, you might be less likely to drop everything and leave. Numbing your emotions can be a useful defense mechanism. Maybe there's a bully at school, or you have a sibling with whom you don't get along. If you're in a situation that's tough to change, you can protect yourself by temporarily shutting off your feelings to help you get through the day. We feel emotions for a reason. They are essential to navigating the world and, ultimately, surviving with our mental health intact. If you routinely numb your emotions, you're cutting yourself off from experiences that your mind needs to feel. Fear, sadness, despair, and other emotions that don't feel good to experience are nevertheless just as important as joy and excitement. If you don't let yourself feel sad, it'll be harder and harder to feel happy. Rather than numbing your emotions, learn to get in touch with them and use them to your advantage.
A: Try muting your emotions when you're facing a challenge. Put your emotions temporarily aside when you have a decision to make. Numb your emotions when you're in a situation you can't control. Avoid cutting yourself off from your emotions too often.

Q: Since slate tiles can vary slightly in size, it is important to do a dry run with your tiles so you know where to adjust the surface level and position of your tiles. Draw an "x" through the room with chalk. When the lines cross they will create a 90-degree angle on which you can check for even spacing. Use tile spacers during the dry run to ensure you have even spacing. If you do, you will want to reposition your layout, so that cut tiles of even width can be laid at either end. This will result in a symmetrical floor. Measure the tile to account for a one-eighth-inch (0.3-cm) grout space along the wall. You can cut slate tile with a diamond-blade wet saw, grinder or hacksaw with an abrasive blade. Place a line of chalk on them during your dry run, so that you can make this important change when you lay your mortar.
A:
Sketch a layout for the color scheme of the slate. Measure lines through the width and length of the room. Lay out your tile to figure out the best use of color. Decide if you will need to cut tile at the edges of the room. Cut tiles to fit around the edges of the room. Mark tiles that require extra thinset on the back to create an even surface.