Q. I think my boyfriend is cheating. We dated for about three months and then he moved in. We’ve been together for about 6 months now. Here’s the problem: A few months ago, he stopped coming home every night. When I ask him where he has been, he says he was drinking with friends and stayed at one of their homes. I think he should call me and...Read more

Q. Six months ago, I married a man who shares equal custody of his three children with their mother. I get along great with the kids, and they have often asked me to join them at their recitals, open house and parent teacher conferences. Their dad and I are always careful to tell their mother in advance when I will be attending. It doesn’t ...Read more

Q. My 21-year-old son who lives with me recently broke up with his girlfriend of two years. This was not a mutual split. He has found another, moved on and his past girlfriend is very hurt. I understand his decision, but I dearly miss his former girlfriend. She was part of our family for two years and I feel like I've lost a child. I would like ...Read more

Q. My co-parent is a lost cause. They are a narcissist! I looked it up on the internet and they check all the boxes. They think they are perfect, always right, and try to manipulate me and the kids to get their own way. They act like they care, but they obviously don’t. They can’t be a good influence. What’s good ex-etiquette?

A. I can’...Read more

Q. I am my husband's second wife and we have been happily married for 40 years. My issue is that whenever my husband thinks of a place or a person from the past, he will start by saying: "When we were in Santa Fe, New Mexico....." So, I ask the obvious question: Who is we? His response is: my ex-wife. For 40 years I have told him that he shouldn...Read more

Q. Reading your column, it is obvious that you are an advocate of both parents spending time together with the children after a breakup. I have no desire to spend time with my ex. We bring out the worst in each other and I don’t want the kids to see that. So, if you can’t or don’t want to, what is good ex-etiquette?

A. I’m an advocate ...Read more

Q. My kids tell me that their stepmother will not allow them in their home unless their dad is present. She asks them to sit outside until he gets home. It appears she hates them and wants nothing to do with them. He is so afraid of another divorce that he puts up with it. The kids tell me they are hungry and hot and it doesn’t matter. She ...Read more

Q. My husband and his ex share their kids equally, but she tries to upset our family every chance she gets. I get along great with the kids, and for the past four years, I have taken them out to buy Father’s Day presents for their dad. Last year without asking me, his ex bought my husband a present from the kids: a Chief’s jersey (he’s a ...Read more

Q. My children’s father died last week. We have been divorced for 13 years. He was 57 and his death was completely unexpected. I am surprised how hard I am taking it. We had both moved on to happy relationships but remained congenial for the kids. I am surprised how his passing has affected me. I’m not sure how I should be feeling or what to...Read more

Q. My co-parent and I have two kids. I recently married a woman with two more children, a few years younger than my own. My wife insists on going to the children’s doctor and dentist appointments, which causes my co-parent to become extremely territorial and recently caused a huge brouhaha at the dentist’s office. The kids were there, and ...Read more

Q. My husband did multiple tours in Afghanistan and has had multiple head injuries. When he came home, he seemed disconnected and it was almost like he didn’t know us. My presence seemed to irritate him, he left the church, and we are now in the middle of a divorce. He met someone while we were still married and chooses to live with her. While...Read more

Q. Each Mother’s Day I am faced with a dilemma. Now that I am in college, I can easily say I love my mom, but I also have a very close relationship with my bonus mom and each year I like to acknowledge her as well. My mom and Jessi get along just fine. We often have brunch together each Mother’s Day. But my family gets even more complicated....Read more

Q: My husband's sons live with us about 40% of the time and I have my three sons full time. My husband works in another city during the week, so it is sometimes only me and 5 boys. Now his ex says we need to have the kids 50/50 (and the kids want this as well), and even though my husband is out of town a lot, she still thinks it's his ...Read more