Category Archive

adult family dynamics

A tale of unconditional love this Father’s Day

Father’s Day is this weekend and that can always be a complicated time for a lot of us.

But here’s a tale of divergent personalities coming back together to celebrate a birthday (and father’s day!) with love and compassion.

3 steps to get through a conversation when you’re the family’s liberal black sheep

Are you one of the few liberals in your conservative family?  If you’re a black sheep like me you probably get stressed out when they ask you, “What are you doing, ya know, with your life?” Here are some ways to save your mental health and hopefully your family ties.

How do I survive current politics at family gatherings?

How do I survive current politics at family gatherings?

I’m headed to my partner’s family’s house for Thanksgiving. My partner and I do not agree with his family on political issues and I have a feeling that there will be discussions about the Midterms and other issues. I’m not sure how to handle them, if I don’t just hide away in the bathroom and ride it out. Any advice for surviving the holidays with a family on the other side of the big political divide?

I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents?

I’m graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents?

I am a 22-year-old woman graduating from undergrad in a few short weeks. My parents are in their 50s and 60s and both have had a lot of health complications. They’re relatively stable, but because I’m their only child and I went to college locally, they have always relied on me for everything from helping with heavy household chores to emergency hospital visits. I know that I owe it to myself to live the life I want, which isn’t really possible where my parents reside, but at the thought of moving away, all I can think about is who would help them do all those things if I wasn’t there.

How do I make this choice without being selfish?

Coming out as polyamorous (how I did it and how it may help you!)

Coming out as polyamorous to family (how I did it and how it may help you!)

In the spring of 2015, I was planning my wedding. However, the elephant in the room was that I was in love with someone else. My non-fiancé partner was a huge part of my life, and I couldn’t imagine them not being at our wedding.

The problem was, I hadn’t told my family about the polyamorous aspect of my life or my long-established queerness. It was one of those things that I cowardly wanted to save until there was “something to report,” lest I draw my parents into my straight-presenting relationship and the hypothetical non-monogamous sex and love I was open to having with imaginary future people of indiscriminate gender.

What's the protocol for family photos with future in-laws?

What’s the protocol for family photos with future in-laws?

I’ve been dating my partner for about two and a half years and we’re definitely on the road to marriage. He’s very close with his family and they are currently planning some family photos with my partner’s immediate family and his brother’s family (wife and kids). Since we’re not married, it feels weird to be part of their family’s photos, especially when I haven’t met them that many times (they live in another state).

Is it cool to have them take the photos without me? Is that even something you could safely suggest or should I just shut up and get in the picture?

Distance is only physical: How to make the most of your out-of-state family members

No matter who is a part of your valued clan, they are likely people who mean something to you and with whom you enjoy spending time in one way or another. So what do you do when they are spread out over the coast, country, or even world? I’m here to tell you how to make the most of this common situation…

How I made peace with the fact that I will never make my father happy

Realizing that I will never make my father happy was a very momentous revelation. And while I’m sure you’re all very happy for me, I couldn’t objectively understand the pressing urge to write my story. And yet, it wouldn’t stop. I needed to get this realization out there.

And then I finally understood why…