A breakup caused my emotional death — “Leave him before he destroys any more of you,” she says. The words slap me through the phone. I know she’s right. I hear the desperation in her voice. The urgency to save me. Tracey feels me slipping away. I feel it too. I just can’t stop it. I pace…

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…

If my pillow could talk — If my pillow could talk it would tell you I beat it up. I soaked it with tears. Splattered it with mascara, a bit of red wine, and the occasional chocolate. I forced it to listen to my fears, my angst, my desperation, and my prayers. I showered it with…

Yet here I am — I am the daughter of a badass. A woman way ahead of her time. She raised five children alone when most two-parent households couldn’t accomplish the job. I was fearless. I wasn’t afraid to leave my husband. I was Rosemarie’s daughter. She figured it out. So would I. My friends…

I’m throwing my body across the altar — Look, I know what you’re thinking. What a terrible thing to say. Who says that? Give the next generation a chance. Your marriage doesn’t necessarily define theirs. Before anyone loses it, I’m kidding. At least, partially. Can you blame me?! One person imploded my life. Which might have been tolerable…

Mine was emotional, his was money — My husband and I had different divorce agendas. I was attempting to escape in one piece. Scratch that. I was trying to get my boys and me out in one piece. My goals were emotional. I wanted peace, love, and happiness to rise again. I rid myself of the terror…

Why you shouldn’t ask if I miss having a daughter — “I’m so sorry,” says the voice on the phone. “Why?” I ask. “That you didn’t have a girl.” “Why are you sorry?” I say. I’m in the hospital. I’ve given birth to my second son. He is hours old. I can’t believe the words I’m hearing. Unwanted dialogue at any…

Children and money shouldn’t be abused to win. — My husband refuses to give me money for food or school supplies. He’s angry I am leaving him. He forgets the years I begged him to care. Or how I pleaded with him to work on our relationship. Family and friends arrive with food. “I know dad’s mad at you,”…

I agree with Kaley Cuoco and Kelly Clarkson — I’m watching The Kelly Clarkson Show. She and Kaley Cuoco confess they will never marry again. I’m distracted by Henry Winkler. Who wouldn’t be?! And Kaley’s endearingly hysterical co-star Zosia Mamet. They dedicate me to a weekend binging their HBO Max series The Flight Attendant. I wanna yell at the…