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Should blended households ever be forced on a child?. Divorce is not easy, and it's hard on everyone involved. With that said, it can be especially hard for children to navigate the reality that their parents are no longer together.

The pandemic has affected travel in major ways, and until recently most of the world was shut down. But now, with travel reopening, many are excited to go on vacation. Most use vacations as a time to get away from their everyday life and bond with their loved ones. But what is a person to do when they want to have a child-free vacation, while their partner insists on including the children?

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events as told to me by an associate, who experienced them firsthand; used with permission. “A leaky faucet was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” she said. “I was angry, exhausted, and fed up.”

One day my marriage counselor made a clarifying statement. "A healthy love relationship is not gauged by how I feel about him/her," he said. "But how I feel about me when I am with him/her."

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events that I have experienced firsthand; used with permission. Getting divorced at a younger age can be difficult. I know this because I got divorced at a relatively younger age than other people I knew who got married and then divorced.

Are stepparents responsible for funding their stepchildren’s lives?. Integrating into a new family as a step-parent can be an incredibly tricky process. This can be especially difficult if the children are not in support of the new step-parent joining their life, and rebel at the idea.

It's tough on a child when their parents separate, and can lead to a lot of feelings of rejection, isolation, as well as other mental health struggles. These realities can be even more difficult for a teenager. Biologically, teenagers are in an extreme spot of change and growth, resulting in emotional fluctuations, rising hormones, and learning to navigate more adult responsibilities.

My daughter was chosen as “Star of the Week” in her daycare class. She’s two. Her teachers sent a large posterboard home that she (read: her parents) would have to fill in with pictures and answers to questions, like what her favorite color and food are.

When my ex-husband told me after we’d been dating almost a year that I could start looking at engagement rings, I spent hours and hours perusing jewelry websites. What kind of settings did I like? What size diamond? Gold or platinum?

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events that I have experienced firsthand; used with permission. When I first started dating my now-husband, I ended up cleaning out his ex-wife’s clothes from their closet that she had left behind because he was too distraught to do it.

Should children have a say in what a parent can and cannot do?. Divorce is never easy. It can leave a lasting and traumatic psychological effect on those involved, especially if there are children.

The Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trial was about abuse. Yet one type of abuse was barely mentioned. And it seems to be the core of what initially ignited the defamation of Johnny Depp. As a relationship columnist, I have spent a decade in the counseling and research of marriage, abuse, and divorcing extreme personalities.

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events as told to me by a close friend, who experienced them firsthand; used with permission. After fifteen years of marriage, my friend divorced her husband. She told me that she still loved him and that he was a good man, but he was a terrible husband. I asked her what she meant by that, and she said that he just wasn’t there for her.

According to data from the American Psychological Association, in 2021 about 40-50% of married couples in the United States will divorce. Most often, the petitioners are women, but the changes impact dads as well. So here’s some divorce advice for fathers that can help them cope with the hardships of the breakup, stay tight with their child, and spread their wings again after.

Cheating husband calls/texts wife 27 times in half-hour. **This article is based on nonfiction by actual events witnessed firsthand by me; used with permission. My friend and I decided to carpool for a conference that we had to attend for work. We were enjoying the trip and some time away from our daily routine. As we drove, she shared with me that she was sure her husband was cheating on her.

This is not a hater's article. Amber Heard doesn't deserve online malice. This is a discussion. People can offer their point of view on Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard without bullying.

Woman in field of flowers walking awayPhoto by Alexey Komissarov. Walking away from a relationship can be a relief. The angels singing, heavens parting kind of relief. You don't have to try and fix or rescue anymore. The frustration, exhaustion, and angst can subside and valuable headspace allows you to breathe again. To be present in the day-to-day.

How far should a person go to coordinate with their ex-spouse’s new family?. Marriage can get complicated, especially when things aren't well in the partnership, leading to separation. Matters get even worse when there are children involved.

Man and woman dressed as angelsPhoto by KoolShooters. I was a marketer, freelance journalist, and former business columnist before I became a relationship columnist. My marital experiences led me to a decade of counseling and research on the topic of relationships, marriage, and divorce. I've spent years examining my own contributions and mistakes.