The New Norms in Post-Divorce Dating

Last updated on: February 19, 2020 at 4:19 pm By Terry Gaspard

In previous blog posts, I’ve looked at the impact that social media and app-based dating has on long-term success in relationships, but in her recent article in Divorce Magazine, Wendi Schuller has added a new wrinkle to the equation. While it’s certainly the case that dating patterns of millennials have changed with the rise of services like Tinder, Schuller looks specifically at how those same apps have affected older people searching for companionship on the other side of a divorce. In her analysis, Schuller... Read more

Focus on Changing Yourself, Not Your Partner To Find Lasting Love

Last updated on: February 19, 2020 at 4:20 pm By Terry Gaspard

What makes for a happy, fulfilled relationship? While this is a complex question that doesn’t lend itself to a quick answer, there are aspects of successful and lasting relationships that have been studied by experts and many approaches to pick from. The good news is that if you are in a relatively happy relationship, there are some simple things you can do – positive behaviors – that can make your relationship better. While I believe it’s important to be vulnerable with your... Read more

Will Living Together and Remaining Unmarried Harm Children?

Last updated on: June 15, 2019 at 4:11 pm By Terry Gaspard

In the U.S., approximately two-thirds of couples live together before marriage; this number is compared to one-half of couples 20 years ago, according to The Pew Research Center. The same Pew study reports that approximately 50 percent of adults over age 18 marry; this number is compared to 72 percent in 1960. In addition, the medium age at first marriage has never been higher for brides (26.5 years) and grooms (28.7 years) according to this report. For the first time in the... Read more

How Can Having a Narcissistic Parent Damage Your Child?

Last updated on: November 1, 2022 at 5:07 pm By Terry Gaspard

There is growing concern among parents about the influence of a parent who have narcissistic traits upon their child. Many books and articles have been written about narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). While these publications have great merit, few have examined the impact on children of living with a parent with narcissistic traits. However, there is some evidence that children raised by a narcissist can adopt some of their personality characteristics such as self-centeredness, inflated sense of entitlement, and lack of empathy. In... Read more

How to Survive a Long-distance Relationship

Last updated on: June 5, 2019 at 11:09 pm By Terry Gaspard

With the appearance and frequency of online and app-based dating increasing, young couples are increasingly dealing with the perils and pitfalls of long-distance relationships. Previously, a relationship hurdle primarily relegated to couples separated by factors like relocating for work, the realities of virtual dating have removed geographical proximity as a prerequisite for romance — young people don’t need to meet, they can now simply, and remotely, “e-meet.” The issues confronting long-distance couples are so common, that a recent article on... Read more

Millennials Repair the Errors of Their Parents’ Generation —One Marriage at a Time

Last updated on: May 30, 2019 at 3:29 pm By Terry Gaspard

Two of the most talked about sociological topics of the day collide in Hannah Smothers’ article “Young Marrieds Are Staying Married, Thanks To Our Divorced Parents,” in the most recent of Cosmopolitan. Diving into the data and picking apart the latest research, Smothers takes a long look at marital success among the most maligned generation — millennials. With more millennials entering the ranks of marriage, the article challenges the notion that younger generations are creating a throw away culture. While Smothers... Read more

Fathers and Daughters: Keeping a Strong Connection After Divorce

Last updated on: May 28, 2019 at 7:16 pm By Terry Gaspard

Many women underestimate the importance their father has in their lives. For the most part, a father’s presence (or lack of presence) in his daughter’s life will affect how she will relate to all men who come after him and can impact her view of herself and her psychological well-being. My research for Daughter’s of Divorce spanned over three years and was comprised of 320 interviews of young women who reflected upon their parents’ divorce. The most common themes that emerged from... Read more

How to Give Up Looking for a Sole Mate and Find Lasting Love

Last updated on: May 23, 2019 at 7:08 pm By Terry Gaspard

For the most part, if your expectations are for an effortless relationship, you might be at risk for throwing in the towel at the earliest sign of any discord. Think of how many good relationships have been discarded before they matured, dismissing a life partner while searching for a soul mate. The idea of a soul mate is romantic but also damaging because healthy relationships are developed and don’t just appear. Author Lisa Arends explains: “A fulfilling relationship occurs when... Read more

6 Ways to Find Happiness with an Emotionally Unavailable Partner

Last updated on: November 1, 2022 at 5:07 pm By Terry Gaspard

Dear Terry, I’ve been unhappy for a long time because my husband and I are like roommates and rarely spend time together. We’ve been married 20 years and have two kids, 14 and 16. My husband is pretty emotionally unavailable. It’s not really anything to do with our kids since they are busy teenagers who are independent in most ways. I think we just have different needs for being close and my husband, Joshua, rarely initiates conversations with me, physical... Read more

5 Reasons Staying Single Is a Good Idea

Last updated on: May 15, 2019 at 7:51 pm By Terry Gaspard

Many people feel pressured to get married and end up tying the knot for the wrong reasons. These reasons include loneliness, social and family pressure, and fear of being alone for an extended period. Mia, a single professional in her late 20’s put it like this: “All of the women in my family married in their early to mid-twenties and there’s this pressure to wed the next available guy – even though I’m perfectly happy with my single life, have... Read more