Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. When merging two families together, it’s important to maintain tact, meaning that no child feels they’re unappreciated or unequal to the others. It means that each parent does their part as adults to make everyone feel included, and to form bonds with their new step-children. Not everyone has this sensitivity or perspective though. In this Reddit thread, the original poster (OP) is a frustrated father. He’s been married to his wife for years, a…

She put her ego over her sister's health.

It’s not a given that we will understand the decisions and motives of our friends and family. Have you ever watched a loved one make a series of appalling decisions, and just facepalm when it all blows up in their face? We all know someone with the worst taste in men and relationships, always trying to expose their red flags before they get hurt, but our suggestions go through one ear and out the other. Or what about our friend who can’t hold down a job, who’s always between one Ponzi scheme or…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. No one wants to be financially responsible for anyone but themselves. I think it’s fair to say that every family has the spendthrift; the person who lacks rationality and reason when it comes to swiping their credit card. The person who is somehow always poor, yet always going to expensive restaurants to eat, and unnecessarily spending money on little treats throughout the day. The money really does add up, and it shouldn’t be anyone’s responsi…

When it comes to money, inheritance, or owning property, families can become so split that it affects relationships eternally. Materialistic tendencies come out, and everyone wants to get their greedy hands on anything they possibly can. Greed is one of the ugliest sins in my opinion. It’s ensconced in pettiness and immaturity, and isolates the people who have these qualities. It lacks politeness and caring, and sometimes it’s the people who have the most that are the greediest. Aside from gree…

The pain of family favoritism is like a sting of a bee right into your heart, the wound solidifying over time in a way that will remain indelibly in your memories of childhood. To grow up with wistful envy towards a sibling or relative is far from healthy or normal, and ultimately it’s the parent’s job to make sure all the children are loved and respected equally. No one wants to feel like a second-class citizen in the company of the people who are supposed to make them feel the most loved and…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Have you ever been in a relationship where you are suddenly hit with the epiphany that your partner is an insane person? There are a lot of psychopaths out there, and sometimes they hide their true colors all too easily. Some people develop specific methods to hide their combativeness, their malice, or their inability to respect others, and it may take time to actually notice something’s wrong. But don’t be fooled by blinders to red flags , the…

Nobody needs to 'expand their palette' on Thanksgiving Day

Imagine you’ve planned the trip of your dreams. You and your two best friends have been brainstorming, researching, and looking forward to this trip for two years now, and finally all the loose ends are tied together. You’re more than excited, and you know that you’ve put in the work to see that your vision comes to fruition. Well, your dreams may take a different direction faster than you expected. Some people really do plan impromptu weddings , I know because I’ve been to some. Good luck to t…

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Boundaries have become a bit of a buzzword these days. It seems like anything someone doesn’t like, they want everyone to tiptoe around their ‘boundaries.’ It’s true that it’s hurtful, disrespectful, and frustrating when someone steps on your boundaries. You feel like you’re not in control, and that someone else dictates aspects of your life that you didn’t want them to have a say in. It’s hard to see someone the same after a situation like thi…

Is she planning to get married again?

Welcome back ladies and gents of the internet. The word ‘responsibility’ has a different ring as a parent. Your responsibility to your child cannot be compared to anything else. If you let someone else watch your kid, you have to know that what happens is out of your hands, and that if you don’t meet them at the promises you made, you could be disappointed in the end. This brings us to the Reddit thread. In this thread, the original poster (OP) is a man who’s agreed to be his nephew’s babysitte…

There's a difference between 'family helps family' and 'family is entitled to your money.'

Betrayal is a sting that even the thick-skinned and strong-willed can still get scathed by. When you marry someone, you expect to have your fair share of arguments, disagreements, and fights. You can anticipate hard times, but no one anticipates having their heart broken by the sundering of loyalty. It’s a different kind of pain, a pain that meditates in your heart and soul for longer than anyone ever wants to admit. Betrayal also wears many faces; it could be infidelity, lying, or simply hidin…

Teenage years have a glaring juxtaposition; on one hand, you’re still not seen as legal adults, and you’re taken care of financially and logistically by your parents. But on another hand, you’re under their reign, their influence, and their control. It feels like a life so far away now, but the teenage years, although frought with carefree, playful times with friends, are also burdened by the memory of being forced to do your parent’s biddings…chores, errands, carpools, it seems like a worse ve…

She found the listings online...