These may not be unconnected. Except for the most disconnected individuals, sex is about intimacy. If you’ve got an established relationship, you can jump into sex directly and intimacy follows, but this isn’t typically how it works. Most of us need some level of emotional intimacy before things get physical. Even individuals who jump into […]
First a response to someone who solicited it: S. writes “I’m a 30 year-old Muslim, married a month ago. I saw my wife only one time and, at that time, I was satisfied with her, but then I got her photo and I wasn’t fully satisfied when I saw it. I informed my parents I […]
Responding first to readers have asked for help: “I am a 22 year old single mother and I have a two year old son. I was not ready for my son when I became pregnant. I love my son a lot, but lately I have not been able to deal with all the whining that […]
Before I get to the subject of this column, I want to respond to several emails from readers that who actually asked for advice: “They Won’t Let Me Drive” writes that he’s a 22 year old and his parents, with whom he still lives, insist he take “their test” before they allow him to get […]
Few things make hearts grow bigger and emotions rise than looking down at the face of a newborn who depends on you. Parenting is a major life choice and it leads individuals into enriching and challenging moments…some that are both at the same time. But it’s important to realize what love is and what it’s […]
To an outsider, relationship decisions may seem very clear, but both financial and emotional considerations can make these less obvious. What if you’re with a cheater? Most individuals stay in a relationship through one infidelity–“he was drunk”, “we’d had a fight”, “we were going through a rough patch”. You probably have many things to sort […]
Few would argue that children change things, we just not always clear on what that means. Having kids isn’t an automatic action–they deserve better and so do you. There are lots of reasons given for having children, the most disturbing of which is one of the most frequently cited: If you don’t have kids who […]
Everyone’s got them–relatives who make you nuts and leave you wanting to shake some sense into them. S.D. writes “I have a mother who is VERY HARD to communicate with. My mother and older sister are so much alike. I’ve never had a close relationship with either of them. There are a lot of issues […]
Nostalgia has it’s place, but don’t forget to be somewhat realistic about the old days. Happiness is a general condition of feeling good about one’s life, good about one’s work and good about relationships–basically, feeling good about one’s self. It’s easy to get sucked into the belief that former days were golden times with little […]
We are a nation of individuals who are very defined by our choices. We’re fiercely protective of our rights and our freedoms. We argue these in the legislature and in the press. We demand freedom of choice…but we have a hard time allowing the same to our children. Parents are tremendously important in children’s lives. […]