Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Christmas is a time for everyone to come together and celebrate. Even people who don’t celebrate Christmas can’t help but be swept up in the joyous Christmas spirit with colored strings of lights all around and fireplaces rolling. And when it comes to Christmas decorations, some people have bins upon bins for storing decorations because they have so many. When you decorate for Christmas, you go all out. That means the inside of the home, as wel…

Welcome back internet enthusiasts. We’ve spent the year laughing, scrolling, and rolling our eyes at sundering marriages, entitled mother-in-laws, and being uninvited to weddings. Enough with the fun and games – let’s get down to the nitty gritty of the year’s most undeniably dramatic, audacious, and dastardly stories. Cancelled family vacations seemed to be such a trend this year, and we couldn’t get enough of it. Whether it was sparked by favoritism, jealousy, financial instability, or a self…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Blended families are never easy. There could be residual resentment, financial difficulties, and children having to cope with a step-parent. There’s no point along this process that’s easier than another, and it will always take time to fully integrate as a family. Because it’s already not a ‘traditional’ dynamic, it’s important to note the sensitivity of titles and relationships, and to not pressure children into a role they’re not comfortable…

It costs zero dollars to bite your tongue...

Paws-itively Adorable!

In a perfect world every parent shows up for their kids when they need them. They are there to keep the monsters away and help you fight them off, but in blended families, roles and dynamics aren't always as clear cut. Balancing the whirlwind of it all can be a challenge for everyone involved. Parents are humans too and they make mistakes especially when they are swept up in love. However it doesn't excuse not putting your children first through it all. They exist because of you. For this daugh…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Divorce isn’t easy for anyone. If you’re a child watching your parents get divorced, it could affect your notion of love the rest of your life. Seeing your parents date other people, and even get married must feel like a ton of bricks just fell on you, and you don’t even have a say about it. If you’re one of the parents getting the divorce, it could be even worse. Resentment, jealousy, d isappointment, and grief can override your ability to tak…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. When you choose to marry and bring someone into the family, it might not always be a smooth transition. There are infinite stories regarding MIL drama with their DIL, or beef between sibling in-laws. Though it’s maddening to have the people you’re closest to not like each other, it happens more than we’d like to admit. Everyone has their own ways of coping with it; some people choose not to intermingle their family with their partner, and some…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Relationships are never a straight and narrow path to navigate. Things can easily become misunderstandings, miscommunications, and misinterpreted to the point where you don’t even know what the other person is saying. Some people attach quickly, while others push away. Some people are anxious, while others are avoidant. Sometimes you both want the same thing, but find it hard to get there together. Heartbreak, breakups, loss, and healing are al…

Grandmothers Unit!

While grieving the loss of a loved one, you'd think being surrounded by family would be the best source of comfort. I would agree, and I think this unsuspecting woman would agree as well. She was just as devastated by being forgotten as she was by the loss of her grandfather. From the moment she heard the news, she wanted to attend the urn ceremony, quickly trying to make the necessary travel arrangements. She did what any decent human being and family member would do, she called her aunt, firs…

If you're anything like me, you love birthdays, celebrating your own and others'. It's a joyous occasion to reflect on how far you've come and think about where you want to go. But for this young woman, her birthday was tarnished by one of the few people who should have been making it special, her dad. After all, we literally wouldn’t be here without our parents, so you’d think they’d celebrate your birthday like it was their own. You did make them parents, after all. For this teenager, her dad…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Christmas is the season for merriment, joy, love, giving, and family get togethers. It’s the season to be overly nice and happy towards everyone. The season of gifts, gestures, and gentleness. It’s also the season of lights; many people decorate the outside of their homes with bright, lurid colors, strings of lights looping all around their roof, and even some decorations on the lawn. Though having a string of lights around one’s roof looks bea…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. For frequent flyers, we know the age old debate about whether you should or shouldn’t give up your seat for someone asking. Maybe they’re elderly, maybe they’re pregnant, and maybe they are just asking for no reason at all, but there will always be people asking. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with asking, as long as you don’t expect anything. I’ve asked before, and when I was told no I politely walked away. Some people aren’t as tactful, some peop…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Everyone has something of sentimental value to them. Whether it’s their baby blanket, a piece of jewelry from a grandparent, or love letters from a forgotten relationship, we all have something that’s near and dear to our hearts. Despite the potential lack of monetary value, we cherish these little trinkets and items more than materialistic things. It’s important for the people around you to understand that these items are special to you, that…

Someone Call the Babysitter