By: Cassandra Nordal For those of you that don’t know, a Situationship is a romantic relationship that’s undefined or maybe even uncommitted. It is NOT the same as “friends with benefits.” It may be someone that you’ve been comfortably hooking up with for some period of time, or someone that has close intimacy with you but doesn’t refer to you as a partner. Sometimes, having undefined relationships is super fun, sexually satisfying, and liberating, even. Plus, a Situationship gives you time to get to know somebody without feeling pressured to make a big decision about commitment.
So how do you know if you’re in one? What’s the difference between an “open relationship” or “friends with benefits?” By: Laura Groulx, MSW, RSW Typically, as a parent, you want the best for your child. You want your child to both survive and thrive. The Western society we live in is individualistic, meaning that success is often viewed from an every-man-for-themselves type of perspective.
Because of this, life can feel competitive at times. For instance, perhaps at one time or another you felt that pressure to make it on that sports team, get into that school, land that perfect job, find that perfect relationship… and have that perfectly-behaved-and-over-achieving-child. THIS IS A TRAP. By: Lara Hollway, MSW,RSW Has your partner ever come to you with a problem and you offer advice, only to have them seem to get upset and/or frustrated with you? Do you find yourself getting frustrated because your partner keeps complaining about a problem but doesn’t seem to want to listen to your solutions? Or does your partner ever say things like “you never listen to me”, when you feel like you are listening and trying to help?
If so, you are not alone. This is a common theme in relationships, and a perfect example of how the best intentions do not always equate to the best results. Read on for a breakdown of this situation, and some suggestions for changing this dynamic. By: Kelly Graham, MSW, RSW Growing up you’ve probably been taught that you shouldn’t talk about masturbation, or maybe even that you shouldn’t masturbate. Because this is something that is not talked about and seen as a “taboo” subject, many people don’t know how good masturbating can be for you.
By: Kelly Graham MSW, RSW A dilemma that comes up as everyone continues to self-isolate is how to spend your time. One enjoyable activity that may help you feel better is sex, either with your partner, or (oh yes, we’re going there!) with yourself!
By: Laura Groulx, MSW, RSW I don’t have answers, only thoughts. I’m not a lawyer, but I do speak with a lot of people about relationships and family dynamics. Recently, with everything happening in the world, I’ve been wondering how co-parents are handling shared custody and access regarding children that are currently in isolation; after all, some children have more than one family.
The idea of surviving isolation with your partner may spur mixed emotions. We are with our partners because we fell in love, so much so, that we have committed ourselves to this other person completely. Well, maybe not completely. Let’s get real: We love our partners, but sometimes too much of a good thing is, as they say, too much. Relationships still require a sense of individuality and independence. We all need our space - space is healthy! However, we may be finding that we have less space from our partner when many of us are spending more time at home. Here are a few ideas on how to cope with increased togetherness:
Our relationship with food can have huge effects on the relationship we have with ourselves, and can reflect onto other aspects of our lives in either positive or negative ways.
We all hit a point in our relationship where we’re out of the honeymoon phase and may feel like we are stuck in a rut. Sometimes life gets busy, and you don’t set aside time for your relationship. It’s okay; this happens to everyone. So how can you connect with your partner again and regain that spark? How can you be assertive, respectful, and firm without incurring the dreaded title of Bridezilla?
I am fairly confident I am not the only one who feels a bit of excitement/relief when a plan with a friend gets canceled.
This is not because I don’t want to spend time with said friend, but it means I don’t have to socialize, can stay home and snuggle my dog, and don’t have to feel guilty that the plans didn’t work out. However, when the time comes and I am the one who wants to cancel plans because I simply don’t feel like socializing, I automatically feel a sense of guilt take over and my thoughts begin to race. Will they be mad? Do I seem unreliable? What if I miss out? What if they choose to not make plans anymore with me? He’s been gone a long time. So long that you can’t even remember the span of time, the days and weeks that he has been gone. Maybe you don’t want to know because it’s more final to know that number.
It’s too hard to accept that there have been so many mornings where you have woken up and he hasn’t, so many storms you couldn’t text him about, so much news that he doesn’t get to hear, or so many texts he never got to send that would make you feel better about losing him. So, you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Congratulations! After you become engaged, life can feel surreal and be overwhelmingly happy. Then comes thinking about who you will invite, the venue, the food, and the money. It can begin to look daunting, and suddenly instead of wedding bells in the distance, all you can hear are anxiety sirens. So how can you plan a wedding that doesn’t cost you your mental health? First off, remember why you are getting married. For most people, it’s to spend the rest of your life with someone you love. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters; that you two can get married and be happy. But for everything else that comes with a wedding, here are 5 tips to help you stay sane.
Maybe you’ve known for years that your child is transgender, and you’re now looking for more information to navigate the teen years. Or, maybe your teen has just come out as trans, and you are feeling a little lost and curious about how to best support them. This article offers some key definitions and tips for loving and raising trans teens, and also provides a suggested list of books you may find helpful.
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OverviewNWO’s source for all things relationships, mental health, wellness, lifestyle, and pandemic support. Kelly Magazine is a mental health outreach initiative created by Kelly Mental Health and supported by Kelly Mental Health Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the community in the area of mental health.
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