Q. My best friend’s husband passed away. She has been devastated and decided to join a grief group where she met a man who was also struggling with the loss of his wife. They hit it off, and although they each still maintain a separate residence, they stay together every night. They are both in their late 70s and were both married for over 50 ...Read more

Q. My mom and I are very close, but I also have a close relationship with my bonus mom. She has been married to my father for 8 years. I was 12 when I met her. I’m 20 now. My mother accepts her, and if asked, she would deny any jealousy. But this one day, Mother’s Day, I notice a difference. If I mention anything about wanting to spend any ...Read more

Since becoming a parent, one of my favorite domestic tasks is taking out the bins on trash night. Not only are the blast of fresh air, the sudden darkness and the sigh of suburban quiet a welcome break from the barrage of stimulation of family life with a young child, it’s also a chance, on a clear night, to reflect on all the iterations of my...Read more

Q. My ex reminds me daily that I can’t do anything right, from paying child support on time (I’ve never been late) to how poorly I parent the kids when they are with me. She tells me about all the guys who want to be with her and how stupid I was for leaving. Every day she finds something else to complain at me about and it makes it very ...Read more

Q. My child’s father and I share custody of our 14-year-old daughter. She and I have always been great friends, and she often confides in me. Evidently, she recently cut first period, got caught and the school requires an email from a parent to allow her to return to class. She wants me to write the letter and not tell her dad. I’m torn ...Read more

Q. My 15-year-old son goes back and forth between his father’s home and mine. When he’s ready to return, I always go to the supermarket and stock up. Yesterday I was talking to his bonus mom (my co-parent’s wife) and she mentioned his favorite food at their house. I was shocked. He never eats burritos at our house, and I told her so. I ...Read more

Q. I have tried to talk to my co-parent about some concerns I have, but she immediately gets defensive. It turns into a shouting match, and I end up the bad guy. I’m not trying to call her out, I just want to talk about the kids. How can we change this? What’s good ex-etiquette?

A. You may not think you are calling her out, but she may feel...Read more

WASHINGTON — Lobbyists are pushing Capitol Hill and the White House to elevate pregnancy resource centers and to fulfill promises to slash funding for Planned Parenthood ahead of Supreme Court arguments next week that will examine if states can choose to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid reimbursements.

Domestic health organizations ...Read more

Q. I have been married to my husband for four years. My husband’s ex has an annoying habit of texting him on his birthday every year. They are flirty texts, not just “Happy birthday” and I find them way out of line. My husband and his ex have been divorced for more than 10 years and the kids are in college, so they have very few co-...Read more

Q. I have two sons, 5 and 7. I do not allow my children more than a half hour a day on their iPad. My partner uses screen time as a way to appease his son, who is turning 8. Recently my bonus son lost his temper and yelled at me in front of my sons. I took away his iPad believing if I did nothing it might set a precedent. My partner came home ...Read more

Q. My ex and I have been apart for six years. Our son is 9 and we share his time equally. For years we got along OK, but her boyfriend moved in last year and now she tapes all the exchanges. It upsets our son, and it upsets me. Today I received a notification that she is taking me back to court to revise the parenting plan we have had for six ...Read more

Q. My ex and I were together for nine years. We had two children, now 6 and 8. I cheated on him. I met someone at work, and we started a relationship. I know it was wrong, but it happened, and I left. Since that day he has been completely irrational, and he has become someone I don’t know. He posts insane accusations on social media. He stalks...Read more

Q. My wife and I have been doing our best to get along with her ex and his partner. We all have kids and have decided we will all be the first to call each other if there is an emergency for the kids. Because of this, we all exchanged keys to our homes in case of emergency. The kids go back and forth on a weekly basis. Yesterday I came home to ...Read more

Q. How do you tell someone who you have been terrible to that you want them back? Can you say you're sorry enough when you have hurt them so badly, they tell you they never want to talk to you again? My temper got the best of me during an argument, and I pushed my fiancee to the floor. She got up and walked out the door. I want to tell her I'm ...Read more