Why I bond with Kelly pre and post-divorce — I’m watching The Kelly Clarkson Show when she confesses she can’t imagine getting married again. I’m like, “Girl, I get you! I got you!” I tell my boys if they get married I’ll throw my body across the altar. Kinda dramatic? My boys think so. They usually yell, “MOM!” “Okay…

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…

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…

I can’t bring myself to do this common practice — I’m talking with friends about online dating post-divorce. “A lot of people lie about their age on dating apps,” they say. “Seriously?” I say. “A lot of men are looking for younger women.” “I’m not willing to lie about my age,” I say. It turns out this is a common…

Trust is a synonym for stupidity — “I was stupid,” I say. “No, you weren’t stupid,” says my friend. “You were trusting.” I love my friend for trying to make me feel better. She’s half right. I was trusting. But let’s face it. Those who were on the receiving end of years of lies, know better. Trust…

It made my children more responsible — My son was in the second grade and often forgetful. One day I went to speak with his teacher. “My son may not have his homework this week,” I say. “I’m going to stop reminding him so he learns this responsibility. …

I’m aggravated I needed it during my divorce — When my children were in elementary school I told them to keep one thing in mind. It was a lesson in cause and effect. “The way you behave and treat people is called your reputation,” I said. “You want to treat others with respect and kindness and do the right…

Not do you take this narcissist? — I want to return my spouse. Is that a problem? No one tells you about ‘emotional’ caveat emptor. In case you’ve never heard the term, it’s Latin and means ‘Let the buyer beware.” It’s a business adage meaning you buy it you keep it. But I no wanna! Caveat emptor…