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Divorce Advice We Can Take Away from Ray Rice

I don’t think there is anyone on this earth whose jaw wasn’t on the ground after seeing yesterday’s newly released video of Ray Rice punching his then fiancé (now wife) Janay in the face in an Atlantic City Elevator last February. But for me, even more shocking is learning that Janay married Rice AFTER that … Read more

dating losers

How to Stop Dating Losers and Meet Someone Meaningful

A DGS reader asks: What do you think I can do to draw a healthy, stable, loving relationship into my life and stop dating losers? Is it me, or is this a nicer way of asking, “How can I avoid picking complete losers and meet someone who is normal and who treats me well?” In … Read more

divorced woman

Divorced Woman Asks for Group Hug

I don’t know one divorced woman or man (or anyone on earth-divorced or not) who doesn’t have days or even longer times when things seem to be imploding in their worlds. In my own situation, I describe those periods of time as feeling like I’m in a dodge ball game, and the balls just keep … Read more

Boyfriend Great With Kids, But No Passion

What would you do if you found a great guy (or girl), who you adored, and who your kids LOVED, but when it was just the two of you, you had zero interest in taking your clothes off?  In other words, there was no passion. That’s what I address in this week’s “Love Essentially” column, … Read more

Your Ex-Husband’s New Girlfriend: Love Her, Hate Her or Indifferent?

I’ll never forget the first time I ever met my ex-husband’s new girlfriend. She was beautiful, blonde, much younger than me, and the worst one: NICE! I felt sick. I felt old. I felt ugly. I felt depressed. I really wanted to hate her guts. The problem was, I just couldn’t. She was (is) so … Read more

everything my partner does irritates me

Everything My Partner Does Irritates Me. Of Course it Does!

From a reader who says, “Everything my partner does irritates me:” Jackie, Why, when people are in a serious relationship, do they sometimes irritate one another to the point where they don’t even want to talk? Is getting annoyed with your significant other common? Is it normal? I really love him, but everything my partner … Read more

Why Rushing Into Relationships Might be a Bad Idea

In my Love Essentially column that came out today in Sun-Times Media Local, I talk about reasons why men and women rush into relationships, and why rushing into relationships isn’t always wise. What baffles my mind, even more than single people rushing into a relationship is when divorced people do it. I really just don’t … Read more

Divorce and Binge Eating: I Get It

Divorce and binge eating is something I am personally familiar with. Years ago, when I was getting divorced, I can remember being so stressed (a combination of anxiety, anger, fear, sadness, hopelessness) that at times I used food to cope. More than just a few times I would stand in front of my freezer shoveling … Read more

thinking about separation

Man Thinking About Separation: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Here is an email from a man thinking about separation from his wife. I truly feel for him because it really is a tormenting decision to have to make. Jackie,  I’m thinking about separation. A few months ago I found out my wife was cheating on me and now I’ve been left with the decision … Read more

We’re Into Each Other! So Why is His Profile Still on Dating Websites?

In my “Love Essentially” column published today in the Sun-Times Media local publications, I respond to a reader’s e-mail regarding a guy she met on one of the dating websites, who she really likes. There’s one red flag: his profile is still active on the site! Here’s my advice to her.   Jackie, “I dated … Read more

Dealing With the Pain of Divorce: Sometimes You Just Need to be Crazy

A reader sent me the following e-mail that I can’t resist sharing because it sparks a discussion about dealing with the pain of divorce, and how that pain, which can be gut-wrenching at times, can cause us to act crazy. The reader refers to the Miranda Lambert Song, “Mama’s Broken Heart,” where Lambert is going … Read more