‘Tinker Bell’ pajamas. — During my single years after my divorce, there was a time when I engaged in an affair with a married man whom I worked with. I’m not proud of this chapter in my life and it was a chaotic and negative experience all around. One of the more dramatic events…

No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. — We as a society tend to oversimplify the male psyche and assume that men don’t get wrapped up in complicated feelings like women do. This is not so. Men can be complicated humans too. They feel things. …

Time tells. — There are many out there who believe people are capable of change. And then there are those who believe that a leopard can never change his or her spots. When I decided to meet my ex-husband for a casual breakfast after 5 years of estrangement, I was genuinely curious to…

Not what I was expecting at all. — Coming to the conclusion that you might need help with some of the challenges in life can be a difficult realization. I know it was for me. After I went through a particularly trying time in my role as a stepparent several years ago, I sought therapy. I had never…

‘Not my vows that are being broken’ can only go so far as an excuse. — I can say that, without a doubt, I tried my best to keep my first marriage afloat. I was a good wife. A loyal wife. A wife who never cheated. A wife who never strayed. A wife with every intention of being a good partner. Alas, all of these ‘angelic’…

There are seasons in life and in relationships. — I’ve been a married woman for quite some time now. I was also a single woman for quite some time in the past. In a way, I guess you could say I’ve experienced the best of both worlds. Throughout it all, I’ve always had my best friend supporting me and…

Good intentions aren’t always enough. — Since the moment I started dating my now-husband, I’ve had to deal with the reality that cooking just isn’t my thing. I don’t look forward to it, I don’t fantasize about creating recipes, etc. It’s just not my thing. This wouldn’t be such a big deal if my husband’s family…

It can happen to anyone. — I know what it’s like. The justifying. The excuses. The reasons. An abuse victim concocting explanations as to why their abuser does horrible things is much more common than some people may realize. I’ve been there. Covering up the bad behavior. Finding ways to downplay the abuse. Giving that get-out-of-jail-free…

Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but they may also hide a thousand secrets. — It’s often difficult to see the real story behind any given photo. With the invention of social media, it’s even more so. Those of us who scroll social media at least once a day are usually inundated with someone’s happy-looking family photos. Our family is friendly with a family whose…