It’s not uncommon in a marriage for one partner to be more of an accumulator than the other. Maybe it’s an outsized collection of coffee mugs, a fondness for sweaters, a tendency to overstock the pantry or buy extra toilet paper; in grappling with a newly empty nest, parents may disagree over how much…
Whether you initiated a divorce or felt blindsided by your spouse’s sudden announcement that the marriage was over, chances are that this is a difficult, painful, overwhelming time. “Emotional rollercoaster” may seem like too tame a term for what you’re going through. It may feel more like a rollercoaster combined with a scrambler, and…
In the ever-expanding world of social media influencers, some of the most captivating content comes from married couples who have turned their relationships into brands. The accounts run the gamut from YouTube yogis to #tradwife TikTokers to Instagram pet parents, families, foodies, fashionistas, health and beauty guides, and wealth advisers. And then there are…
If you are living with an abusive spouse or domestic partner, you may feel very alone, afraid, and powerless. You may feel responsible or ashamed about what’s happening, concerned or convinced that your partner’s behavior is somehow your fault. You may be overwhelmed or even unsure whether what you’re experiencing is abuse. Here are…
California is a no-fault divorce state. There is no need to prove wrongdoing or “grounds” to end your marriage—If one or both partners want out, they can be granted a divorce based on irreconcilable differences. The court will not consider a reason or fault. But that doesn’t mean your actions don’t matter. Regarding other…
From the wicked stepmother and cruel stepsisters in Cinderella to the Pollyanna portrayal of The Brady Bunch, to images we see on social media of exes who appear to be BFFs with each other’s new spouses (i.e., Katy Perry and Miranda Kerr)—cultural lore surrounds blended families. Some of it may be unhelpful or even downright…
The course of true love never did run smooth, as Shakespeare said. No relationship is perfect. Every marriage has ups and downs, bumps in the road, sticky points, issues, and conflicts that rear their ugly heads from time to time. No matter how much you love and enjoy each other, there are built-in challenges…
When you got married, you meant it to be forever. It wasn’t just a fairytale idea—you committed to it in good faith. And when it became clear that, despite your best efforts, you couldn’t salvage the marriage, the thing you never wanted to contemplate became unavoidable: you took the tough step of moving toward…
Every troubled marriage has its own unique set of factors that make splitting up painful and complicated. But if you’re considering divorcing a spouse who is suffering from chronic illness, there are additional layers—from practical, logistical, legal, and financial concerns to thorny emotional matters. There’s no question that chronic illness can take a heavy…
Maybe you’re going through a rough patch in your marriage. Maybe you’re already contemplating divorce. Perhaps, lately, you feel like you’re just going through the motions. You find yourself wondering: Is this all there is? Are these feelings normal? What is a “good marriage” anyway? Marriage — merging lives with another human being “for…
