Pets. Loveable. Frustrating. All-consuming? I seen this more often than I would like. Person A has dog (or cat or bird or whatever). Person A finds themselves in a committed relationship with Person B. Person B does not like animals. Person A is torn. They love their Ruffy, but they also kind of dig Person B. What to do, what to do. Why should you have to choose? If you are an animal lover and you had your best friend before you got in this semi-serious relationship, the incoming significant other needs to understand that your pet is your companion. If they are an animal hater, that is likely to cause some serious dissention in your relationship. I would hate to see relationships fai

I think it is safe to assume that everyone reading this is either a teenager or used to be a teenager. Do you ever look back at your 16-year-old self and feel like punching yourself in the face? I was a late bloomer. I made it to 17 incident-free, but seriously... what was I thinking? It breaks my heart to see parents with errant teens, saddened by their choices and seemingly helpless to correct them. Blank stares, slammed doors, late nights. Teenagers. It breaks my hear to see teenagers – angry, frustrated and unable to effectively communicate with the ones who brought them into this world. I'm not telling you it is easy, or that you can fix it, or, more importantly, that it is anyone’

What separates a shallow relationship from a lifelong commitment? Checking in. OK, I am being super facetious when I say that, because it really can't be separated that way. However, something that I have always appreciated about my husband, even when we were dating, is that he checks in. I, in turn, offer him the same courtesy if I am out of town or going to be working late. By “checking in," I do not mean a 30-minute conversation about everything he did that day or an exact itinerary while he is away. Situation: My husband is out of town for work or screwing around with his buddies. Check-in: Text that says, "Hey wife, hope you had a good day, love you!" Yes, my husband calls me "wi

There are a number of lame decisions that you have to make about your life when you break up with (or divorce) your significant other. One of the worst decisions to be made is how you deal with mutual friendships. Most couples have other "couple friends" or mutual single friends that are part of a group. Well, how awkward is it (particularly if the break-up was messy) to continue to hang out with your mutual friends if your ex is there as well. I suppose it is only awkward if you make it awkward, but consider how your friends must feel. Where does their allegiance lie? Are they trying to figure out how to split their time between the two of you separately, but equal? When they host a part

Romantic relationships are hard. Whether you are in a brand new dating relationship, a lifelong marriage or some kind of awkward in-between stage, there is no easy relationship. If it is easy every day, you may not be doing it right. Real relationships take focus, dedication and time. There are so many contributing factors to the health of your personal relationships, such as work, family, finances, personalities, history, and the list goes on and on. However, looking these challenges in the face while you succeed at your relationship is rich satisfaction. You came, you saw, you conquered. Dating is rough. Can't say I have done it in a long time, but I am very close to those who are. I t

I recently read a blog about comparing ourselves to our friends or society in general and how if affects friendships. I was compelled to think it through and apply the premise to my own life. Do I unconsciously push away relationships because I am too inwardly focused? On the surface, women are the worst offenders, comparing their physical appearance to their friends, celebrities and that other girl who runs by their house each morning (dang, she has a nice body). However, men are just as guilty of competing with their friends and peers for a better car, a better house, a better job, or (gulp) a better-looking girl. Everyone does it. It is human nature. But is this automatic response res

The Sacramento Press has approximately 2,000 contributors signed up on our site to voluntarily write articles. Without them, we wouldn’t exist. Among this group, there is a small core of writers and photographers whom we work closely with on a regular basis. These contributors go above and beyond by taking assignments from us, having their articles copy edited and making us very proud as they represent us in the community. To just tell you how great they are isn’t enough. So we’ll show you a tiny snippet of why we love them. During the next week, we will continue to roll out our “community contributor spotlight” video series featuring six of our top community contributors. Without furt

Q: I work in a small(ish) office setting where we try really hard to engage in a positive manner with all the employees. We have one girl who, despite numerous efforts to draw her in, does not participate in any work functions and shuns most polite conversation. I have no idea why she is like that, but I don't like the fact that she ignores everyone and excludes herself from what we are doing! Should I just leave her alone or continue to try and engage her? A: There are a lot of people who choose to distance themselves from their coworkers. Everyone has their own reasons for acting the way they do at work, whether it be to engage everyone or no one. What you need to remember is that she i

Q: I have been dating my girlfriend for nearly six months. About four months into our relationship, I finally introduced her to my mom. They seemed to hit it off and had a lot to talk about, but shortly after that my mom confided in me that she didn't like her. She had a whole list of things she didn't like about her, from the way she did her makeup to the fact that she worked for herself. I think my mom is being ridiculous, and I am really happy. However, my mom is my mom and I don't want to alienate her. Not sure how to work through this issue! A: Well this situation sucks doesn't it? My answer is simple: What your mom thinks has merit, and I suggest you take a close look at your girlf

It is a big decision. Moving in together, making meals together, paying bills together. Moving in with your significant other might be the best decision you have ever made... or it might break you up. The single most difficult decision to make when moving in together? How do we split the bills? Rent, phone bill, cable, groceries and on and on and on. You need new furniture, appliances and a bigger bed. The expenses add up, which is tension enough, but you need a solid plan (before you make this decision) about your finances. There are a few methods to consider: 1. Combine your funds in one account and pay from there. Let me be the first to say that I do not recommend this option unless