After my boyfriend and I went to different colleges, he hooked up with other girls since he didn’t think we were “exclusive.” We’re very much back together and committed now, but I can’t seem to keep the fear away when we’re apart. Can I ever relax and enjoy my relationship again like I used to?
Faith, Family, and Future Confusion
In all of our discussions about how to raise future children, we came to the agreement that they would be raised with “both sides”. After he spoke with his mother about me and the potential for us to take the next step, she said to him that if he does stay with me, any kids would have to be his religion and for his family to take control of all religious instruction. He has now come back, and given me a choice of accepting this, or for our relationship to come to an end. He knows how important sharing my religion is to me, and when I say this, he tells me that he would make it up to me in other ways, and that this is the last thing he will ask of me. He has said that it would cause too many issues with his extended family if kids are not raised in his religion. He flat out said that he is not afraid of his mom, but he can’t say no to her. I feel like he thinks “I’m not worth the hassle” to have uncomfortable conversations with both sides of our families.
We Lost our Zing
I’ve been married for 7 years, but I do not love my husband the same way that I used to. I mean I like him more than anyone else in the world, but there is no zing. I love him too but I don’t feel in love with him. It’s hard for me to have physical relationships with him. I don’t want to leave him. I want to fall in love with him and be physically attracted to him. Can you please help me?
Partner’s Sexual Guilt
I finally found the man that I want to marry. He’s kind, considerate and we work very well together. However last week I found out he has slept with prostitutes in the past. Some traumatic stuff happened to him in his younger years and I think it sort of tipped him over the edge and I don’t really think he thought much about others. He slept with prostitutes 3 times during his 20s. However, he also slept with a prostitute only 18 months ago, in the Philippines, which I have massive issues with as the women there aren’t exactly given a lot of choice. He’s not proud about it, he’s deeply regretful and doesn’t try to excuse any of it.
Dad is a Third Wheel
My boyfriend (I’ll call Jeff) and I have been together for 7 years, and started dating at 18. We both live with our parents, and recently we’ve been considering getting an apartment together, but nearby just in case we break up. Our plan is to move to a different state at some point. Jeff’s dad is a widower, doesn’t have contact with much of his family and has a few friends. Jeff wants to visit his dad EVERY day when we move out. And as far as moving to a different state, Jeff wants to wait until his dad retires (maybe in five years or so) so all three of us can move together. In said different state, Jeff wants to buy a house with an in-law apartment or another cottage on the property for his dad to live in.
I Was the Other Woman and I Didn’t Know It
For some reason after all this time I did online research and found out that he was married…but I don’t know when and I’m not sure I wanted to know. I am devastated and can’t function. I texted him and said OMG you are married. How can you do that to me? He texted back that he’s done dealing with me and he shut his phone off.
In-Laws, Am I Right?
My new husband’s family deals with a very dysfunctional and demanding personality who often engages in manipulation and argumentative behavior. As a new in-law to this family, being on the receiving end of that family member’s behavior has been jarring at best and damaging at worst; and we’ve only been married three months. My best responses have been to remain non-reactive, disengage and take distance… But this is very hard to do when my better half is at times consumed with how to manage the fallout. How do I respond in love, when everything in me wants to call this person out for their childish behavior and slowly phase them out of my life?
Miscarriage Heartbroken
During my pregnancy my husband was awful to me. We fight a lot and it ended up in me losing the baby. He is a good husband and this fighting only started when I found out I was pregnant. He supported me throughout the grieving process but I started to lose interest in my marriage. Just when I was able to fall in love with my husband again I fell in love with another man.
My Girlfriend Broke Up With Me But We Still Live Together
My girlfriend broke up with me about 5 months ago, but we have decided to live together for the time being until we sell our house that we bought together. She says that she just feels that she doesn’t like the way her life in general is and that she lost passion in our relationship. Throughout the 5 months it was a good relationship so I thought that we would get back together, that is until she started seeing this guy.
Fighting for Family
My boyfriend will soon become my fiancé, and although our relationship is mostly wonderful, there is one hurdle I hope to cross. My boyfriend hates my mother. In some ways, this is completely understandable. His experience with her has largely been negative. Although she likes him a lot, she has a very rocky relationship with me, and our fights have often affected my relationship with my boyfriend. When we do get married, he will become part of my family, and I don’t want our relationship with them to crumble. Is it wrong of me to ask him to be polite and civil, even to my dysfunctional mother, for the sake of me keeping a good relationship with my family?
Dead End
After my breakup from a serious relationship, I found a new guy during my “finding myself” phase. At first we said that we would take things slow, but things quickly turned intimate. He comforts me, holds my hand, kisses me on the forehead randomly, cuddling with me at night. That’s all great but when I said that we should take our relationship to the next step, he says that he just wants to take it slow because of his rough past. Is this a lost cause? Should I give up and run?
Torn Between Two Dreams
I want to pursue my dream of graduate school but my dream of a boyfriend doesn’t want to follow me when I move for school. Do we try to make it work or am I just kidding myself?
Divorce with Regret
Since my ex-husband’s wife became critically ill, he started reaching out to me for support and just to talk. I am thinking he is letting me know that if something happens to his wife he wants us to be together again. Are my thoughts just wishful thinking or is he giving me subtle hints?
Dating Problems for a Guy
Despite the world being obsessed with “social justice”, you won’t read about women’s pervasive patterns of racial, height, or other looks discrimination against men or how difficult they are to counteract. You won’t read about the growing inequities in the dating marketplace these create. I feel harshly discriminated against by women every day in the dating marketplace for things I can’t control.
To Baby or Not To Baby
We are sixty thousand in debt but want to have a baby. Should we?
Fearful of Drug Past
When I met my partner and we shared our past I knew we were different. He had been into drugs and weed until he hit 30, I had been previously married with two children and never touched a drug. But we hit it off because this was 3yrs behind him. Now, we are several years later and I am fearful of what a relapse could do to our relationship.
Broken Heart Lifestyle
Hello! I’m 40 and full of energy. I’m growing my own company and doing yoga and running with my dogs. I have been in love four times in my life and married one of the three men in those four (there was one woman). My husband bolted at the prospect of having children and I was devastated but I’ve moved on. Outside of those four, I’ve barely even had crushes. The problem is, I’m getting older and it feels like having a broken heart is really becoming a lifestyle for me. How do I find love in my 40s?
Overweight Comments
Before even saying “good morning” to me, the first text I get from him now is, “Have you been to the gym today?” and makes me feel guilty if the answer is no. He jokingly said that January is the deadline and if I’m not “fit” by that month, he will dump me. He brings up this topic quite often and I don’t know if he is really joking or not. I know he probably just wants to motivate me, but this feels weird. I feel a horrible amount of pressure on me and I’m definitely not fond of this kind of “motivation.”
Future Cat Lady
I keep going on dates with no success. I feel like giving up. Am I destined to become a future cat lady?
Behind the Back Daddy
I had a 4-month affair that led to the birth of a son in addition to the 5 children that I already share with my partner of 15 years. I’m trying to figure out how to have both fathers to my children without losing them.
Addicted to Destruction
I think there is something wrong with me, but I’ve noticed a weird pattern that consists of me pushing good guys away from me and clinging to bad ones instead.
Walking on Eggshells
Even though we’ve dated for 4 years my boyfriend still has a habit of bringing up his ex-girlfriends on a regular basis. I get really mad and then he gets really mad at me for feeling that way. It feels like we’re walking on eggshells every time he brings up the past.
Struggling with my Partner’s Sexual Past
I can’t get past the fact that he’s slept with so many woman. I think about it when we are being intimate and every woman I see I ask myself if she’s one of them.
He Kept Our Relationship a Secret
I talked and texted with a guy for 8 months. We lived far apart so I wasn’t suspicous at first when we couldn’t meet up. He promised that we could Skype soon, but that always seemed to fall through. When I finally had enough and said something, he blocked me and told me that he would report me for harassment.
Lost Desire for My Husband
After our son’s birth I lost my sexual desire for my husband and haven’t been able to get it back. Now it’s several years later and I’m even beginning to flirt with other men. I have never cheated on him but I don’t know what to do.
Is It Me?
It seems that every time I think I have met someone great, they ghost “disappear without word” on me all of a sudden. What am I doing wrong?
No More Kids Please
I am a 37-year old woman with 2 children and my new fiancé wants to have more children once we get married. Can I say no?
Happy But No Butterflies
It’s just that neither of us ever experienced the whole “butterflies” crush thing towards each other.
Cheated and Chased
My boyfriend of 6 months drunkenly initiated a kiss with a random girl at a party. His friend walked in and interrupted them. I broke up with him and for several weeks attempted to cut contact. However, he persistently made efforts to contact me and convince me it was alcohol driven and random.
Tongue Tied
I’ve been having trouble communicating with my boyfriend for a while now. I’m the kind of person who, when something upsets me, I need time to process it before I talk to someone about it. How can we talk without losing our minds?
Bonus Mom to an Infant
I fell in love with a man going through a divorce. Then I found out that his soon to be ex-wife was pregnant. Fast forward and he has a new baby daughter who isn’t mine. I love and respect him so much but this is incredibly difficult for me. I want to be the best bonus mom and significant other I can be. Help me find a way.
Invisible Girl
Sometimes I just feel so invisible with my “boyfriend.” Why does he have to seek other girls’ attention when I give him my 150%? I’ve always put him first, and it sucks. I’m scared to face him and have “the talk” because I’m sure he’ll say that he is honestly tired of me. He was my first boyfriend, the guy that I lost my virginity to and my first real love.
Political Differences
I get nervous every time my boyfriend and I watch a TV show and a topic of any political nature comes up. It’s not that he’s a huge trump supporter or anything but we just see things differently. I’m scared that he’s going to say something, and then I’ll counter if I don’t agree, we’ll fight, and it’ll be horrible.
Facebook Stalking His Ex-Girlfriend
I unrightfully invaded my husband’s internet history and found a ton of visits to his ex-girlfriend’s facebook and instagram. What do I do now?
Fell Out of Love with Mr. Perfect
I’ve fallen out of love with Mr. Perfect and I don’t know what to do. I could picture a future with him but for a while now all I can think about is how I’m unhappy. Because he hasn’t done anything wrong, I feel like I’m going to irrevocably break his heart into a million tiny pieces.
Social Media Hermit
My boyfriend doesn’t like social media and has even made me take posts and pictures about him down. Why is he hiding me from the world?
Depressed Relationship
My boyfriend has depression and says that he should take meds but doesn’t. He’s ashamed of his mental illness and claims that pills would only reaffirm the fact that he is “crazy.”
Virgin Boyfriend wants to Sleep Around
My boyfriend thinks that I should give him permission to sleep with other women because he lost his virginity to me. Isn’t this worse than being cheated on?
Cruel Hearted Boyfriend
I’ve heard it said that the way people treat their parents says a lot about them. My boyfriend is very rude to his mother, to the point of humiliating her in front of me. Is this true and am I in big trouble?
Love Leaving Me Behind
This summer I met a great guy whom I’ve spent every waking hour. He is about to begin traveling and wants to break ties. Is this reasonable?
Helpless Husband
I’m a stay at home housewife and take care of my mother and my husband’s mother including cooking, cleaning, and shopping for them. My husband will not help me at all, even a little bit.
Still Dating my Ex-Boyfriend
Even though we broke up a year ago we still spend so much time together that it seems like we’re dating. Should we?
Damaged Relationship
I know that my boyfriend talks to other girls and has even been sexually involved with at least 2 of them, and yet I desperately try to be enough for him.
Boyfriend vs. Friends
I love my boyfriend and the way that I feel around him but my friends say that he is emotionally abusive and manipulative. Should I listen to them?
Sexless Marriage
I’m a fit and young woman and yet my husband doesn’t want to have sex with me. We had great sex when we were dating but now 3 years into our marriage he has changed.
How Long Do I Wait
I love my boyfriend but he is tied up in a gnarly divorce and isn’t sure if he can ever commit to marrying me. How long should I wait for him to figure it out?
22 years and now what
My husband cheated on me with a younger woman and told me that he wasn’t attracted to me anymore. Then, he told me that he wanted to stay together.
Introvert Alone Time Causes Conflict
My boyfriend thinks I don’t love him when I want time alone and is very critical of me for doing so. Is this reasonable for me to want alone time?
2 Women, Big Problems
After my wife and I separated, I found new love. Now my wife wants to work things out and I’m torn up about what do do. How do you decide to return to your marriage (and children) or to your new love?
Spoiling Grandchildren is Causing Marriage Problems
I would rather spend money on my grandchildren than on myself but my wife isn’t having it. How do I convince her that giving to my family is a good thing?