When carrying leftover feelings for an ex-love, stay cool and sober when meeting up.

When a relationship’s development is controlled by one person, resentment will take over.

A partner’s employee is on separate turf from your relationship.

When parents disapprove of an already-troubled relationship, try to negotiate rather than resist.

Once the relationship is over, it’s not worth re-living the misery by re-hashing the blame.

When sex is over, the emotional bond may also be gone; time to explore why and consider whether to exit.

Get to know potential dates, rather than make instant assessments.

When a married lover doesn’t speak of love, face reality instead of dreams.

Trust starts with communication, and requires the ability to negotiate and accept compromise.

Grief emerges in many different ways, even in the same family, and all deserve some understanding.

Relationships between people with children and ex’es requires honesty, commitment and thoughtful arrangements.

When a tattoo can end a relationship, it’s a symbol of greater differences.

Family tiffs are enough to bear, without one’s partner refusing to offer some support and understanding.

A sexless marriage has a history and a cause, which two people need to explore honestly and openly.

A return to past relationships can trigger worse results, if positive change isn’t evident.

Young adults moving toward independence need their parents’ trust as well as support.

Change is proven by actions, not words.

The unpleasant realities you discover through snooping need to be aired, along with your own questionable behaviour.

Laziness isn’t “catchy;” it’s a choice you can refuse to follow.

Estrangement from children should be a last resort after trying all paths to mutual acceptance.

Brides who focus on their valued relationships more than wedding hype, stand to benefit far beyond their Big Day.

Clinging to a troubled relationship increases the problems – while taking a break can bring change.

You can forgive a toxic relationship without having to resume it.

When someone dominates every issue with anger or silence, the relationship is beyond an easy fix.

Running away from a loving relationship, based on fear and past experiences, usually leaves one alone and increasingly bitter.

Nasty insults after a divorce are rarely believed.

Compromise is a mainstay of strong, lasting relationships, so long as it’s not one-sided.

Marital problems require discussion and search for solutions, not knee-jerk responses to drama.

Happy Hallowe’en! Safety first makes the fun far more lasting!

When a partner undergoes huge emotional changes, the other needs to acknowledge them rather than just expect things to be the same.

When life becomes a soap opera, it’s time to change the reality.

Personal growth sometimes comes after losses; the process is tough but the end result often leads to greater self-knowledge and peace.

A marriage in which one partner has friends with benefits, usually becomes an unhappy crowd.

When two parents love each other, they should put raising their child together ahead of fears of commitment.

When a casual “pen pal” pressures for a relationship that requires a visa, be wary and get well-informed.

When you have serious doubts, examine the relationship and decide.

A troubled marriage can’t be worked on – even with counselling – if one partner is knocking on another door.

Communication in a serious relationship isn’t just “talk”- it’s sharing, confiding, listening. And it’s crucial.

In a marriage, there’s no such thing as “private” stresses; even when you try to hide them, they affect both parties.

If your sex life isn’t satisfying one or the other partner, it’s a couples’ problem that needs to be addressed.

Drug abuse affects the whole family; get informed about its impact and weigh your options.

Parents who ignore the same rules they set for their teens, often have a rude awakening.

Having sex simultaneously with more than one partner often brings consequences that can’t be hidden.

When a partner is constantly involved with family or friends, look closer at your relationship together.

The role of a stepparent is to support a partner in child rearing, with long-term committment.

When one person’s doing all the giving, without any getting, the “match” isn’t fair.

When depression appears likely, get pro-active for your partner.

The time when a couple is expecting a baby can be sensitive for both; get closer and mutually supportive.

When circumstances require you to act as the parent to your parent, be pro-active and understanding rather than indulgent.

If contacting someone years after a relationship, acknowledge past mistakes, then deal only with the present.