I shed years of tears with that white dress — I am chatting with someone about relationships. I’ve spent a decade in the counseling and research of love. Unfortunately, there’s no secret ‘tell’ sign as we jump from dating to marriage. “You don’t know someone until you’ve married them,” I say. “I’ve heard that before,” they respond. Some may find…

The good news is there is more than one true love out there — At sixteen, I believed my best friend and I would one-day live side by side. Our gorgeous families separated only by dreamy white picket fences. A romantic suburban euphoria. By the time I was nineteen, I graduated to believing I had found the love of my life. And of course…

I’m simply changing careers — “My mommy is the room mom.” “My mommy is in charge of the fundraiser.” “My mommy is rescuing puppies.” “My mommy is organizing the field trip.” “My mommy is raising money for Cystic Fibrosis.” Society didn’t realize what I was doing. My children did. It’s a career. …

I couldn’t leave my husband until I heard these words — I struggled with my marriage for years. I frustrated my family, my friends, and my marriage counselor. We had many conversations. I poured out my heart. More than anyone should ever have had to absorb. Call it denial, tenacity, positivity, enabling, faith…it would all be true. I just couldn’t hear…

Take note of why if you have a controlling spouse — “You may have been better off staying with him,” says my sister. She’s echoing a sentiment I have often exercised. I word it a different way on the days I don’t think I can take any more of his punishment, control, and abuse. “I wish I had never left him,”…

And it hasn’t happened yet — Have you guessed it yet? The calendar square brides are fighting over. The most popular wedding date of 2022. It’s the day approximately 90,000 couples will marry this year. It’s my birthday and the day my ex-husband chose to remarry. October 22, 2022. What’s all the fuss about? It seems…

We were complete opposites but it took decades to realize it — “You and your husband are very different,” says my friend. “No,” I say. “We’re a lot a like.” “No,” she says. “He’s nothing like you.” I thought my husband and I were well-matched. Irish, check. Catholic, check. Extroverts, check. Business majors, check. Importance of family and friends, check, check. I…

Until she started talking about my kids. — I’m furious my ex-husband’s fiance thinks it’s okay to bad-mouth my children. I’m more outraged that a father would allow it to happen. She’s inserted herself into his life for two years. She doesn’t know our history or who my children are. Worse, the two of them caused the drama…

It still brings tears to my eyes — “I don’t want to leave my mom,” I say. “She never left me. I don’t want to leave her.” It’s one of the few times I am unyielding with my boyfriend. He wants me to move to be with him. My stance is non-negotiable. I’ve graduated college and found my…