Blended families don't always blend

2 years too late

Some people have weird things about leftovers

Not in the mood, sis

Set boundaries

To paraphrase Virginia Woolf, everyone needs a room of one's own. If at all possible, we all need spaces that are fully ours, where we can decompress, be creative, and not have to worry about someone barging in and demanding something of us . This is especially true as a new parent. It might not always be possible to have a sanctuary as a new mom, but you can get creative with it. Maybe you take extra long “showers," and when you're family thinks you're shampooing, you're actually knee-deep in…

Being unemployed is no walk in the park . It can do a number on your mental well-being and self esteem, not to mention your finances. When you can't find a job, you can feel like you have no purpose in life, that nobody wants you and you have nothing to offer. This, of course, isn't true, it's just straight up hard to find a job these days, but it plays emotional games with your head. And some people can find themselves in that rut for years, especially if their living situation is taken care o…

Everybody wants the perfect proposal photo . You want everyone to be jealous of your picturesque setting, your gorgeous outfit, and the perfect snapshot of the perfect love. On some implicit level, everyone wants that. It's human nature to want those around you to be jealous. But life is far from perfect. It's messy, unpredictable, and often not all that photogenic. That extends to proposals as well. And after all, it's not about that. It's about coming together as a couple in the ultimate prom…

Taking family time to another level

Sounds like a soap opera

Everybody is allowed to have the wedding of their dreams, within reason. It's your day, so you get to do what you want. And if that means having no kids attend, then that's your prerogative. But you can't then be surprised when certain family members decline to attend. If you have a kid-free wedding, you also have to commit to it before you send the invitations out. You can't change your mind last minute. Weddings are expensive, time-consuming affairs for everyone involved, including the guests…

Is he just free-spirited or plain ole irresponsible?

Drop everything, I guess

Why is it that the 'family first' crowd doesn't think that rule applies to them?

Allergies are no joke. People who suffer from them know how serious they can be, and take every precaution to keep themselves safe. It's a whole skill you have to develop, not only knowing what foods might secretly contain your allergen but also informing everyone around you how to keep you safe. You have to constantly educate the people around you. And when you're having dinner at someone else's house, you can't be sure what they did or didn't put in the meal. So you develop failsafes, like br…

It's always tough to live with a family member. You most likely did it when you were young and then moved out for a reason. It's so much easier to maintain a healthy relationship when you don't also have to share a bathroom or a kitchen with them. But anyone living in close quarters knows how much your roommates can get under your skin, even when they're not doing anything wrong. You get to witness close-ups of their little habits, quirks, and shortcomings, and they can grind your gears no matt…