We see it all the time on movies and television. A handsome young man presents his girlfriend with a beautiful diamond engagement ring as he pops the proverbial question. She loves the ring because it shows everyone just how well her beloved knows her. Naturally, the ring…
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How do you know if your relationship is healthy? Does knowing your relationship is healthy come from just feeling satisfied with the way another person interacts with you? In my opinion, there’s a lot more to having a healthy relationship…
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It’s finally happened. My father has officially become an old man, complete with the chronic illnesses that often go along with being elderly. Granted, I never knew my father as a young man. I was born when he was 39…
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Recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship can be very tricky, especially when you are the subject of the abuse. Most people go into relationships with high hopes and the very best of intentions. It can be tough to admit…
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Buying jeans when you’re short can be a real hassle. It’s even more of a hassle if you also happen to be plus sized. Unfortunately, I have both problems and have always found buying jeans to be a real chore….
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I hesitate to ever advise someone to take extreme measures when it comes to dealing with a problem. Although I agree that it would be tempting to cut off all contact with someone who is repeatedly disrespectful to other people,…
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May 18, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
I’ve often heard about how hard it is to be a military spouse from other people. In fact, when people hear I’m an Army wife, sometimes they thank me for what I do. The strange thing is, as a military…
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I believe that lying can absolutely affect the intimacy of a relationship in a negative way. A person who habitually lies cannot be trusted, and trust is the cornerstone of any relationship of significance. In my opinion, true intimacy also…
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My husband and I are not the typical military family. We don’t have kids together. His kids from his first marriage are estranged and haven’t had contact with us in years. I have no children of my own. Still, it was hard to say…
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March 20, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
My husband and I are living proof that second marriages can work very well. I am my husband’s second wife. He was married to his first wife for almost ten years. We married about two years after he and his…
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“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” I’m sure many suicidal people who have dared to express their feelings have heard this popular but trite saying at least once. But when it comes down to it, suicide really is a…
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January 21, 2015 Friends and Peers
It’s always a tough situation when a friend is jealous of you. Uncontrolled jealousy among friends can lead to anger, resentment, and, if things go too far, the end of the friendship. So what should you do if you suspect your friend is…
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January 18, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
Despite Frank Sinatra’s enthusiastic rendition of the old song “Love and Marriage”, I don’t believe love and marriage always necessarily “go together”. As romantic as the idea of marriage can be, the fact is, people decide to get married for…
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I believe that parents are responsible for raising their children to the best of their ability. Once children become adults, they have to be responsible for their own behavior. In my 36 years on this planet, I have known some…
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I think I can empathize with the plight of gay, lesbian, and transgendered students in schools. After all, kids are often cruel to each other and it seems like every day, there’s a new story about some kid being harassed or…
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June 18, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
When a child is involved in a divorce, it’s very common that one parent will try to use the child as leverage against the other parent. The child becomes a pawn as mom or dad tries to influence his or her behavior toward or against the non-custodial parent. However,…
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The slang term “cougar” refers to an older woman who pursues a sexual relationship with a man who is at least eight years younger than she is. True cougars are usually at least 35 years old; however, a “cadet cougar”…
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The late comedian George Carlin was famous for his stance on free speech. Back in the 1970s, he made waves when he performed a routine called “Seven Words You Can’t Say on Television”. That historic monologue led to future routines…
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The holidays are now upon us and, for many people, that means more family togetherness. While family gatherings over the holiday season can be a wonderful time for bonding and making new memories, it can also be a stressful time…
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January 14, 2014 Marriage and Divorce
When I married my husband, I chose to change my last name to his. I made that decision because I knew it was important to him, but it was also important to me. Sharing the same last name as my…
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It can be difficult to spot the classic signs of controlling in a relationship, especially when the person doing the controlling is someone you love. Many people in miserable, controlling relationships eventually have a moment of clarity and ask themselves…
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July 30, 2013 Marriage and Divorce
I ran across an interesting discussion the other day as I was surfing the web. Some people on a military messageboard were offering their opinions about an issue that has arisen overseas involving Alessandra Bosco, an Italian born U.S. Army…
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