Dating The Not-Quite-Divorced

Dear Duana,I’ve gotten involved with three women I met online in the last year, only to find they were all still married. I had asked each of them whether their divorce was final before meeting in person, and they all said yes! Do I need to see finalized legal papers before I can meet someone for coffee? Dan Dear Duana,I’m a single mom, and I’ve been set up with another single parent who is ‘not quite divorced’. Do you think he’s on the rebound? Should I suggest he contact me when the divorce is final? Should I have one coffee date and see what I think? Cindy

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Q&A from "Staying Together For The Kids?"

Wise Readers, What if Stuart and Jeffrey were Stella and Jill—would having two moms who were looking for extra-relational love be even worse for household stability than two dads doing same? Would buying houses near each other allow Stuart and Jeffrey to protect their kids’ stability while looking for love elsewhere? And when is it a good idea to get a divorce for the children’s sake? Read on!

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Q&A from "Stepmarriages: Keeping love alive when they're somebody else's kids"

Wise Readers, Bioparents and biokids need alone-time—but why might stepdad/stepkid alone-time be dangerous? What if you know you don’t like the kid—should you get married anyway? Is there an evolved psychology behind Evil Stepmothering? How long does it take to make Steps feel like Family? And how many baggages can you carry? Read on!

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Stepmarriages: Keeping love alive when they’re somebody else’s kids

Dear Duana, I love my wife, but we argue about how to discipline her kids; she often sides with them in front of me, and they’ve learned I have no traction. I feel like I’m last in Anna’s affections and priorities. I don’t want to give up—but I won’t live with brats who’ve got their mom’s backing. Dear Scott, Just two years into a stepmarriage, most men are no longer supervising, disciplining or interacting much at all with the stepkids. And the divorce rate is literally 50% higher for remarriages with kids. Don’t give up; step up. Here’s how to save your marriage—and what to avoid.

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