Naming a child is not as easy as it may seem. Even though either one of the parents might have grown up with one name in mind for their first child, whether or not their spouse will like the name is no guarantee. And finding a name that equally pleases both spouses will likely prove […] More
There’s no feeling worse than the feeling of being left out. Learning about a party or gathering several of your friends were part of, but you were not. Sometimes, there was no intentional exclusion, and the presence of the one with fear of missing out, or FOMO, would have been a welcome addition. Unfortunately, some […] More
It’s always humbling when a friend steps in and offers to help you financially. Be it simply covering you for a cup of coffee, or lending you a sizable loan to make a downpayment on a house, knowing that someone cares about you that much to help you in that way is truly moving. This […] More
When getting married, people tend to view their in-laws as either an added bonus, or an unfortunate downside. Those who are lucky have as good or better a relationship with their in-laws as they do with their own families, and thus look forward to spending time with them at family gatherings or on vacations. Others, […] More
When money is tight, families are forced to make sacrifices. Sometimes, they might be small, such as postponing a vacation, not going out to favorite restaurants as much as one might like, or getting a cheaper brand of food. Sometimes, however, more extreme sacrifices are necessary from all members of the family, even if one […] More
While one does want to plan around having a child, being in a good financial place and with a proper home to raise them in, there is one all too important matter you can seldom plan around. When to conceive. While some parents become pregnant almost effortlessly, others are not so lucky, requiring extra help […] More
There are few moments as momentous for a married couple than buying their first house. Even if the celebration is always accompanied by a fair amount of strife. As searching for the house isn’t always easy, with the happy couples often having a competing list of priorities for each house. Even if a couple doesn’t […] More
Surprises are always something of a gamble. For the most part, surprising friends and family with a special treat or celebration is always planned with the intent of pleasing them. Yet one can never be too sure how they’ll react. While most people are touched and overwhelmed by the gesture, others might be somewhat less […] More
The emergence of social media has proven to have many advantages. Namely, the ability to connect with considerable ease to people who you might not get to see very often or who you thought you lost contact with years ago. However, social media can also be extremely dangerous. Sometimes you might find yourself getting carried […] More
No matter the circumstances, when parents get divorced, their relationship with their children becomes different. Seeing them only temporarily and not on a regular basis as before, will forever change their dynamic, even if there is absolutely no love lost. Things can become even more complicated when step or half-siblings are thrown into the mix, […] More
When people or children marry or remarry, the relationship between their new spouse and their children is always a major point of concern. Sometimes, the children won’t make any attempt to become close to their new step-parent, feeling they are a constant reminder that their parent’s marriage didn’t work out. Other times, however, they become […] More
After getting married, one should be able to safely assume that they are now part of their spouse’s family. Many families do, indeed, welcome their new son or daughter in law with open arms, marking the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Others, however, are not so lucky, and despite their best efforts simply never feel […] More
