Think of these as deadly sins. — “You don’t appreciate me,” my husband said. I winced. As a Relationship Coach, I work with many couples on improving their relationship, so it’s a particular sore spot when my husband points out that I miss the mark too. He was right, of course. I’d been stressed and hadn’t said…

Love can be found in unexpected places — We were sitting at a table near the bar, listening to a local band, when two beautiful women approached us. They clearly knew Ben and both gave him a hug. “Who’s this?” they asked, eyeing me up in their tiny, figure-hugging dresses and expertly applied makeup. At 39, in jeans…

Are you attracting the right people? — We all want and need close friends, but the reality is friendships are not always easy or solid. In some, you end up making all the effort — always being the one who calls, always the one to organize meet ups. In some, you change and outgrow people. In some…

The journey from wingman to partner — New on the dating scene, I needed an accomplice. My friend Ben would do. “There’s a guy I like and his band is playing tonight. Do you want to come be my wing-man?” I texted him. “Yeah! Sure. If you’ll be mine, too!” Ben had been single for a long…

It sucks but it’s actually okay — It’s not an easy decision to leave a long-term relationship. 70% of the time, it’s the women who end up leaving marriages. Even if your relationship has been toxic or abusive, there’s this strange thing that happens: The person who leaves becomes the villain. People say they won’t take sides…

Is it your fault or theirs? — I lived with Kate for a year and although she was smart, fun, kind and sweet, she was also one of the most easily offended people I’ve ever met. Friends or family members who are always offended by what you say and do can make you feel like a terrible…

3 red flags to look for in adult friendships — I’d always had a close group of friends but never an adult best-friend relationship. Then Jana came along. Jana was a tiny, beautiful woman with a huge personality. She spun around in her seat at church and introduced herself with a huge smile and the kind of focused attention that…

And enjoy them more — The adolescent years have a bad rep. Our sweet little children turn into hormonally driven, impulsive, lazy, moody teens, right? But the tween and teen years are actually a time we can be excited about as parents. I’m onto raising my second teen now and my 14 year old already…

Sometimes prayer isn’t easy — Talking to God isn’t always easy — regardless of whether you’ve been praying for years or have never said a single one. There are times you want to pray and nothing comes. There are times when you’re too broken or grieving to focus on prayer. There are times when the…

If these three happen, it’s time to move on — It’s their second date and Sienna has her legs pulled up under her, a scowl on her face, and her full attention on her phone. When Matt’s flat-mate arrives home the tension in the room is noticeable. “I thought you were going out tonight?” Matt rolls his eyes towards Sienna…

Are they worth the wait? — Imagine standing under the stars, face-to-face with your perfect match. They hold your hands and pull you a little closer. You watch as they look from your lips to your eyes and back again — it’s clear they want to kiss you. You’ve had a crush on them for a…

It’s too important to rush — Danielle had been in a series of terrible relationships. Her last one ended a few years ago when she discovered he was cheating on her. I’ve known Danielle a long time and she’s an intelligent, thoughtful woman. She thinks carefully about her choices and is mindful in every area of…

It doesn’t have to be so hard — When I became single again a couple of years ago, after my 16 year marriage ended, I was surprised by how much dating has changed. Dating has become colder. Our swipe culture has made it more transactional and unkind. We date like we’re in a shopping mall – discarding people…

5 things not to say to your single friends — Each time I was single — in my 20s and recently after divorce — I was offered advice from friends, family, even strangers! Why does being single attract so much unsolicited advice? Some of it was helpful, some not so much. Here are 5 pieces of advice that did more…

They told me more by their actions than their advice — They’re the only couple on the dance floor in front of the band, but from the smiles on their faces, it’s obvious they don’t mind. They move together in perfect unison. He holds her hands and spins her around then pulls her back gently to his side. She follows his…

It’s time to reassess — “You’re too supportive. I think it’s holding you back,” he said. I felt myself blink, opened my mouth and then shut it again, stunned. What had we even been talking about? His statement seemed to come out of nowhere. “Okay,” I said finally. I waited for him to explain but…

How loving partners can choose healthy limits — Relationships are an opportunity for you to grow. They’re an opportunity for you to decide what you will and won’t do. They’re an opportunity to learn from your mistakes. My friend Dan thought Emily was “the one”. They were young and tried to make it work, even got engaged, but…

Building a new life from the appliances up — The store manager says the whole country could run out of appliances soon. Looking around at the empty shelves you can tell it’s not just a sales pitch. “The top-loader washing machines will be the first to go,” he says. You make astonished noises. It seems the appropriate response to…

Are you fooling yourself about who they really are? — Growing up, my stepmom used to tell me, “Date with your eyes wide open, then close them a little after you get married.” At the time I thought that was weird advice, but I get it now. Dating, before an exclusive relationship or marriage, is about finding out who a…

If you’re feeling guilty for their moods, it’s a sign you are — Tate finished work and took a deep breath before opening the door. He braced himself for the mood he’d find his girlfriend in. Hopefully she’d had a good day. Tate tried his best to make her happy, but lately she rarely was. Where had the fun, playful woman he’d dated…