My girlfriend of 18 months and I have an amazing relationship - we excel in communication and work things out. I’m away at university and we’re still in love, but I’m unsure over what to do about boundaries with other girls.
      Most of my good friends in high school were females. I don’t wish to hurt my girlfriend, but some of my new closest friends here are females.       
      This makes my girlfriend jealous. She tells me so and that it’s harder for her to understand because in high school she knew my friends. Now she doesn't even want to meet these people because it’ll make her upset.      
      She says she just needs to get over it and that I should continue to hang out with them. But I’m worried that it bothers her too much.      
      What are reasonable boundaries? I don’t want to upset her but I do want to be able to openly hang out with friends during the week, which is when I don’t see my girlfriend.
      - So Uncertain

Take your very good communication a step further, into mutual trust. Your girlfriend needs to meet your friends casually, hang out with you and them sometimes, so that you can talk about them openly with her.     
      But it’s equally important that they know her place in your life and see you two as a couple. Also, trust her instincts; the jealousy is coming because these friends are already a fact, before she’s met them.     
      You should’ve introduced them to her as early as possible.      
      Boundaries? Even when things settle, do not constantly talk about these friends, or get too involved in their stories. If you want your relationship to last, it must be seen as primary in your interest.

I moved with my husband from Canada to the U.S. for his job transfer. I became depressed from giving up my car, the house I bought, my job, proximity to family and friends, and my independence. I tried hard to meet people and with therapy gradually felt better.    
      Then, my brother committed suicide. I realized that life was short and precious and that I didn’t want to stay where I had no friends or family support. I asked my husband to consider moving back to Canada.      
      For monetary reasons he refused; my happiness wasn’t his priority. We went to marriage counselling, but he put no effort into making things better. I’ve been in counselling, and learned to manage my depression.      
      I stopped loving my husband. I told him I’m leaving, yet he acts as though everything’s fine. I need to sort things out financially and want to be amicable, but if he doesn't acknowledge my leaving.      
      How can I proceed? I plan to see a lawyer, but wanted to alert him and not be deceitful. How do I make him realize I’m leaving?
      - Feeling Frustrated

Your husband’s default mode is denial, so until you’re out the door, he’s going to rely on this “no worries” style of not having to change anything in his life.      
      You should know that when he does “get it,” he may overreact with sorrow, pleading, or, more likely, heavy-handedness over a financial settlement.    
      See a lawyer NOW, and tell Hubby you’re doing so. It’s not a combative move, especially if you tell both him and the lawyer that you want to try to stay amicable. Bringing in a mediator to help sort things out can help prevent an entrenched legal battle.

My sister’s close to a nervous breakdown; her marriage of three years has been constantly strained by her husband’s mother. Though she tries to help them, even let them live in her house, she throws every thing back in their faces.
      She’s told my sister that if the marriage breaks up, she’ll be unable to take her child with her. She also tried to kill herself to pull them apart.
      - Still Concerned

Your sister and her husband must separate themselves from this woman – living on their own, not relying on her for babysitting or finances.
      Those dependency ties give this seemingly unstable woman opportunity (and some rights) to make demands and increase tensions.      
      Your sister must also curtail her own drama reactions – a “breakdown” would only increase her MIL’s involvement. Sis needs her strength and the logical sense to know this woman can’t legally withhold her daughter from her.