I found a report on marriage and divorce that led me to look at both in a different way. People say things like, “divorce is on the rise” or “divorce rates are higher than ever,” but where do they get this information? 
 I grew up with divorced parents who remarried and then divorced, then divorced again. My earliest memories are full of divorce, not marriage. I think that in some way that led me to think that nothing lasts forever. My grandparents were married. My Aunts and Uncles were married, but I was focused on my own family. Mom and dad …read more

Do you ever wonder why marriages fail?  Do people fall out of love with each other? Do they fall in love with someone else?  Do they grow apart? Where do the problems come from?  An Australian study claims to have the answers, but the reasons they give read more like statistics than personal reasons.
Led by Rebecca Kippen and Bruce Chapmanfrom The Australian National University and Peng Yu from Australia’s Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the team tracked nearly 2,500 married and cohabiting couples from 2001 to 2007 and identified which factors are most likely to sever …read more

While reading about some of what is going on with the very public Gosselin divorce – Jon is allegedly taking money, Kate is allegedly hiding money – I’m reminded of how quickly things can blow up and out of control when a marriage ends.
My divorce wasn’t of interest to anyone not immediately involved with it. My family was happy. My husband and I were not. His family?  You’d have to ask them for their opinion – I no longer am in contact with any of them. Divorce is the most crazy-making thing I’ve ever survived.
This is my experience with divorce …read more

As a divorced woman, I can honestly tell you that when going through a divorce you are not at your best. It’s like the divorce takes over your brain and there’s no room left for things like rational thought or common sense. I saw a piece today at AOL Health, by Gabrielle Linzer and Christina Parrella, about mistakes that people make while going through a divorce.
Here are a few “slip ups,” that divorcing folk tend to fall into……
*Do not try to entice your ex back by being overly generous when divvying up your assests. I did not fall into this one …read more

In 1993, I separated from my husband. It wasn’t a clean break and I won’t go into details, but there were still a lot of unresolved feelings. In the Summer of 1997, we had a short reconciliation which resulted in the birth of my youngest daughter. By the Fall of 1997, we cut the ties finally. 
Prior to reconciling, I felt compelled to somehow work things out with him. After the birth of Sarah, I no longer felt that way. I think that she was our “unfinished business.”  Since 1998, I’ve never looked back and I am 100% content with the …read more

Growing up, my favorite author was Judy Blume. I read everything she wrote, most books multiple times. I loved her! When my sister came through town the other day, she lent me her copy of Judy Blume’s novel for adults, Smart Women.
Originally published in the 80s, the subject matter is still relevant today. It’s a novel that tells the story of a couple of divorced women with children – Margo and B.B.- in their 40s. As a divorced woman of 42, I could really relate.
I spent much of my adult life single in an attempt to protect both myself and …read more

We all know Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin have split up, they made a big deal out of telling all of us viewers that they had filed for a divorce on their last show. So now my question to your readers is how soon is too soon when
introducing the girlfriend/boyfriend to the family? Keep in mind that it sounds like Jon and Kate split up long before they announced it and he’s been seeing this “new woman” for a while.
Jon Gosselin was spotted taking a vacation down in France with his girlfriend, Hailey Glassman.  Course now that they are back …read more

While it sometimes seems that women are the more commitment-minded of the sexes, it appears that it’s the other way around!!!
Recently, Date.com, Matchmaker.com, and Amor.com, teamed up to poll their members to see who would be willing to give marriage a second chance after a divorce.
Check out the results, when asked if they would remarry after a divorce:
Men
Yes 65.4%
No …read more

I read today that Robin and Sean Penn have put a halt to their legal separation again. Previously, the Penns filed divorce paperwork in December of 2007. Four months later, they reconciled. Recently, Sean Penn filed once again.
Now, it appears as if they are halting the proceedings. I imagine that these are not easy times for the Penns. I can’t help but respect their desire to work it out, to not let go of their marriage.

I’m divorced. I can remember just wanting to be free of my husband. I felt that he was tearing me down, tearing our family down, …read more

With all the reality tv shows coming and going its made me wonder what type of pressure it has on those that have to be under the camera all the time. One example is Jon & Kate Plus 8, here’s a husband and a wife that were getting along just fine and had twins, then sextuplets and were invited to do a reality show.
The first two seasons were great, but I think the “reality” part of it started getting in the way. Cameras were constantly around, Kate is a control freak, Jon is too laid back, the couple would soon …read more