Relationships

From marriage and divorce to sibling rivalries to mother-in-law woes, relationships are the most important parts of our lives. Here, find news and stories about the many colorful relationships that shape our existence (for better and worse).

How Can I Explain to My 3-Year-Old That He Can't Be As Affectionate As He Is With Strangers?

How Can I Explain to My 3-Year-Old That He Can’t Be As Affectionate As He Is With Strangers?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her 3-year-old son, whom she says is overly affectionate with strangers. She says her son will hug and kiss strangers — friends of the mom’s who come over to visit, for example — and this behavior makes his mom uncomfortable. The strangers, she says, will usually laugh, which she feels encourages him to do it more. She wants to explain to him that it is not okay to kiss strangers. Any advice?

How Can I Explain to My 3-Year-Old That He Can’t Be As Affectionate As He Is With Strangers? Read More »

My Partner Thinks He's Always Right and Has a Bad Attitude: Should I Leave?

My Partner Thinks He’s Always Right and Has a Bad Attitude: Should I Leave?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her partner. She says that her partner always thinks he is right and has a bad attitude. He thinks his opinion on everything — from raising their daughter to finances — is the right one and refuses to listen to hers. He nags, he curses at her. This mom is at the point where she wants to take her daughter and leave, but she says she has nowhere to go.

My Partner Thinks He’s Always Right and Has a Bad Attitude: Should I Leave? Read More »

How Do I Know If It Is the Right Time for Me to Start Dating Again?

How Do I Know If It Is the Right Time for Me to Start Dating Again?

A mom writes in asking for advice about when she might start dating again. This single mom, who has a 13-month-old baby, hasn’t dated anyone since she was six months pregnant. She says her last relationship was bad, but she has recently started feeling open to the idea of letting someone new into her (and her baby’s) life. She asks the community for advice about when people in similar situations knew they were ready to date, the best ways to meet potential partners, and more.

How Do I Know If It Is the Right Time for Me to Start Dating Again? Read More »

My Passive-Aggressive Mother-in-Law Overrules My Parenting Choices, and My Partner Doesn't Stand Up for Me: Advice?

My Passive-Aggressive Mother-in-Law Overrules My Parenting Choices, and My Partner Doesn’t Stand Up for Me: Advice?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law (MIL). She says that she, her son, and her boyfriend live with her boyfriend’s mom (her MIL). The MIL constantly oversteps her boundaries and butts in on parenting matters that ultimately aren’t her business. She leaves passive-aggressive notes for the mom to find. She overrules this mom’s desires for her child (including for things like vaccines and food.) She also says that her boyfriend never stands up for her against his mom. Unfortunately, this mom is not in a place to move out with her family just yet, so how can she cope with her MIL in the meantime?

My Passive-Aggressive Mother-in-Law Overrules My Parenting Choices, and My Partner Doesn’t Stand Up for Me: Advice? Read More »

Mom Wonders If She's the Asshole For Telling Her Ex-Husband's Soon-to-Be Ex-Wife That She and Her Daughter Want Nothing to Do With Her

Mom Wonders If She’s the A**hole For Telling Her Ex-Husband’s Soon-to-Be Ex-Wife That She and Her Daughter Want Nothing to Do With Her

“I was pretty shocked to discover that his wife reached out to me, basically crying about what happened, how she couldn’t believe it, and how now that we’re in the same camp, so to speak, we should maintain a relationship so our daughters can still be in each other’s lives and so we can commiserate.”

Mom Wonders If She’s the A**hole For Telling Her Ex-Husband’s Soon-to-Be Ex-Wife That She and Her Daughter Want Nothing to Do With Her Read More »

I'm 15 Weeks Pregnant and Have No Support System: Advice?

I’m 15 Weeks Pregnant and Have No Support System: Advice?

A mom writes in asking for advice about finding support during her pregnancy. She says she is 15 weeks pregnant, and though she is with the father of the child, he is currently injured and unable to help with many of the things she needs help with. She has health concerns as well, along with housing and financial issues. What can she do? Who can she turn to?

I’m 15 Weeks Pregnant and Have No Support System: Advice? Read More »

My Kids Have No Grandparents, and It Makes Our Lives So Much Harder: Advice?

My Kids Have No Grandparents, and It Makes Our Lives So Much Harder: Advice?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her struggle with the fact that her children have no grandparents. She says that all of her kids’ grandparents are deceased, except for her own mom who has mental health and addiction issues and who is not involved much in their lives. This mom is struggling, feeling like she lacks the “village” she desires to help make her family complete. She turns to other moms in the community, asking if anyone else has experienced similar or has any advice.

My Kids Have No Grandparents, and It Makes Our Lives So Much Harder: Advice? Read More »

Should I Leave My Partner Before Having Our Second Baby or Try to Stick It Out?

Should I Leave My Partner Before Having Our Second Baby or Try to Stick It Out?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her relationship with the father of her children. She is due to deliver their second child soon, but this mom may be done with the relationship. She says her partner is no help with their first child, does nothing around the house, and can be verbally abusive. This mom wants to know if it would be best to end the relationship before the baby comes or let the baby come… and see if things get better.

Should I Leave My Partner Before Having Our Second Baby or Try to Stick It Out? Read More »

My Kids' Grandmother Is Not Social Distancing and Works in a High-Risk Environment But Still Wants to See Her Grandkids: Advice?

My Kids’ Grandmother Is Not Social Distancing and Works in a High-Risk Environment But Still Wants to See Her Grandkids: Advice?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her kids’ grandmother. Their grandmother (on their father’s side) is not, according to this mom, practicing social distancing. Additionally, she works in a nursing home, placing her in an incredibly high-risk position. However, the grandmother still constantly asks to see her grandkids. What should this mom do?

My Kids’ Grandmother Is Not Social Distancing and Works in a High-Risk Environment But Still Wants to See Her Grandkids: Advice? Read More »

My Mom Very Explicitly Favors One of My Daughters and It Makes Me Not Want to See Her: Advice?

My Mom Very Explicitly Favors One of My Daughters and It Makes Me Not Want to See Her: Advice?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mom, whom she says explicitly favors the eldest of her two daughters. This mom says that her mom told her ahead of the arrival of her second baby that she doesn’t “know if I can love another one” After the baby was born, her mom continued to make comments and behave as if she only loves and cares about her oldest grandchild.

My Mom Very Explicitly Favors One of My Daughters and It Makes Me Not Want to See Her: Advice? Read More »

Melissa Etheridge Reveals She Joined Thousands of Other Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones to Opioid Addictions After Her 21-Year-Old Son Passes Way

Melissa Etheridge Reveals She Joined Thousands of Other Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones to Opioid Addictions After Her 21-Year-Old Son Passes Way

“Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addictions.”

Melissa Etheridge Reveals She Joined Thousands of Other Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones to Opioid Addictions After Her 21-Year-Old Son Passes Way Read More »

How Do I Explain to My 2-Year-Old That His Father and I Are No Longer Together?

How Do I Explain to My 2-Year-Old That His Father and I Are No Longer Together?

A mom writes in asking for advice about how to explain to her 2-year-old son that his father is no longer in the picture. She says she finally ended a toxic, years-long relationship with the father of her child, but her son constantly asks to see or speak with his dad. However, communication is very limited due to the aforementioned toxicity of their relationship. This mom also wants to know how she might introduce a new love interest into her son’s life at some point.

How Do I Explain to My 2-Year-Old That His Father and I Are No Longer Together? Read More »

My Sister-in-Law Copies Everything I Do and It Infuriates Me: Am I Overreacting?

My Sister-in-Law Copies Everything I Do and It Infuriates Me: Am I Overreacting?

A mom writes in asking for advice about her sister-in-law. She says her SIL “copies everything I do” from home decor to kids’ clothing to social media posts. She also adds that her SIL has a daughter who “does not know how to play well with others” and hits when expressing emotion. She wants to

My Sister-in-Law Copies Everything I Do and It Infuriates Me: Am I Overreacting? Read More »

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