I'm in my mid-40's and recently started using a well-known dating service which is geared towards finding long-term relationships. I'm pretty open in my profile about what I'm looking for. The challenge I'm having is trying to determine an acceptable pace (I'm very new to on-line dating).
I recently met a very nice woman whom I'm quite interested in. We've been out a couple of times. She gave me her phone number and e-mail address, which I take as a certain sign of interest. She appears to have some level of comfort and trust with me.
However, when I contact her, she takes quite a while to get back to me – recently, it was over a week. I know she's busy with a full time job and as a single parent of a young child.
Still, I'm confused about why she takes so long to respond. I don't want to push her but I do wonder why she couldn't simply send a quick response or call just to say hi. Is this a sign for anything?

- Impatient?

You’re being impatient – a classic mistake in dating. She’s behaving normally, and wisely – a working single mom with a youngster is certainly busy, and must also be careful about not rushing into relationships. She calls you back, accepts your dates, that’s all that’s needed as you slowly get to know each other.
Those who hurry a new connection with constant texting, emails, and phone calls often build up expectations too soon, ignore any differences that need discussing, and end up disappointed and wondering what went wrong.
Take her lead and don’t act needy. Ask if there’s a time period when she’s most free to talk; if possible, meet her for lunch near her work one day, suggest a casual get-together such as a coffee date or pizza one night after her child goes to sleep. Build a connection.

My partner of 32 years has had a brain injury for eight years. Her mother’s been diagnosed with dementia – if it worsens, any stress makes it very hard for my partner to cope.
Initially, with her injury, I had to insist she visit her mother, who still expected her daughter to care for her emotionally. (It’d been her role since age 15).
If, again, she doesn’t want to see her mother, what should I do? She’ll regret this decision once her mother dies, but do I force her?
My partner cannot be left alone, so her therapy support workers take her to visit. Would it be wrong for them to handle both of them? I just don’t know what to do with this situation.
How do I support her mother’s husband through this? It could get very bad (her grandmother had the worst dementia) and I don’t know how to cope.

- Worried

This is more about you than your partner… you need some help adjusting to what’s possible, and to what isn’t. Talk to your partner’s doctor, and to her support workers, to learn more about what she can handle, and what backup is needed.
No, you can’t force her to do anything. You can do this: explain her mother’s condition, accompany her on some visits, divert the mother’s demands, and construct the visits differently (shorter, less chat, e.g. watching a movie on TV together, or having a meal, just to be a presence).
You can also arrange with the aides and the husband to intervene when there’s stress, and end the visit.

Several family members are concerned about my brother’s partner, to whom he hastily proposed. They moved in together, he bought a house.
She’s lied to my family regarding her family history, education, and background.
My family finds it difficult to confront my brother; he becomes defensive but indicates she suffers from extreme insecurity. She’s now pregnant, and unemployed.
He stopped communicating with most of the family. My parents have been supportive - helping them move, taking her out for dinner and lunch.
I’m uncomfortable being the selected one to talk to him, despite my extreme displeasure. Or should we all mind our own business?

- Meddling Sis

BUTT OUT. She’s his choice, and they’re having a baby. “Talking to him” is a guarantee of distancing him permanently.
Look to your parents’ wise example: They want to stay in his life, and know their grandchild, so they help out instead of just judging.