I’m a female doctor with four young girls living in Canada. My ex pays minimum child support for them. I earn $200,000 minimum a year.      
      I’m dating an American man with older children and we’re talking about him moving in with me and getting married. In the U.S. he earns around $70,000 of which he still gives something to his kids.    
      It’s not certain how much he’d earn in Canada and how long it would take him to get established. He guarantees the first $2,000 monthly that he earns would go to our household. He helps with my children and we make a nice family together.    
      On the prenuptial agreement, he wants that any money that I have till now is mine; but once we’re married, anything we make is ours together and I should work less and spend more time with the family. On this issue, we may break up. What makes sense?
      - Concerned

First: Look into your own nature and be realistic about how much you’re willing to share and how much you’re willing to compromise, because only two things are certain:     
      a) There are NO guarantees that he’ll even get a job here; b) He seems to know what he wants – which is, you plus security; while you don’t know yet what you want most – him or control over all you earn.    
      Second: Get good legal advice. In some Canadian provinces, the family law holds that once you’re married, he’s entitled on separation or divorce, to an equal share of the matrimonial home, and of assets acquired together. And, ongoing financial support or a lump sum, if your earnings exceed his.      
      A pre-nuptial contract can call for different arrangements, including setting up trust funds for your children’s futures that won’t be affected by all this. But you will BOTH need to agree, and that’s where the relationship challenges lie right now.

My husband and I entertain a lot, usually small dinners, occasionally large parties, and sometimes weekends at our spacious cottage. We go to considerable effort to make these events as nice as possible.      
      Yet most of our guests never reciprocate, not for a meal or even a drink. Nor do they invite us to restaurants or plays, though some go on such outings regularly.    
      Some have been frequent guests, so it can't be because they dislike our company. And I know they entertain others regularly, so they don’t lack the ability, confidence or time.We’ve been friends with some of these people for decades.    
      Should we just stop inviting them? We enjoy their company, but get tired of it being a one-way street.
      - Uninvited

However you approach this curious matter, you’ll be seeing less of some of these friends. So you might as well bite the bullet and ask the ones who also do some entertaining, why they don’t reciprocate your many invitations.    
      Sure, that sounds awkward, but stopping your own pattern of hosting will also put a chill between you. Start with the people you feel closest to - their answers may be instructive. If they include, “We simply can’t afford or match your style,” you’ll know to pull back on the décor or catering.    
      Or, “We have a large family, and not enough room to also include friends,” you might glean some understanding, even if you still feel left out. You’ll ultimately be left with a decision: do you want the company, or do you want equal treatment?

I’m a lesbian, 16, ready to meet other lesbians. I’m lonely, desperately wanting a loving relationship, but I don't know where to meet young lesbian/bisexual teens.      
      I'm also worried about my mother's reaction if she discovered my attraction to girls. She feels that homosexuality is "weird" and "gross." She’d fear the opinions of my conservative family.     
      I feel that I'm old enough to have a healthy relationship. What should I say to my mother should she discover my orientation?
      - Lonely In Toronto

When an inexperienced person of any sexual orientation seeks love secretively, and when desperately lonely, it’s a set-up for disaster.      
      Far better to try discussing your feelings with your Mom and asking her to open her mind through attending a local PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meeting/support group.      
      Go with her … it’ll help you be more informed, too, and provide open connections with other lesbians and gays.