Chicago Sun-Times

People live in many different closets

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:50:02 -0500

We think we live in such an open society, but there are different closets for different people.

Man receives perfect response after coming out to his mother

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:11:20 -0500

A mother’s unconditional love for her son surprises him when he came out.

After struggle, couple finds double blessings

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:48:10 -0500

Infertility issues lead couple down a different path on the way to becoming parents.

Health crisis teaches newlyweds the meaning of love

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:34:00 -0500

A new couple faces a health care crisis and discover the meaning of love.

Out, hoping others will follow

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:46:01 -0500

On Monday we met Patrick, who was a senior in high school when he decided to stop allowing society to define him. He “turned on that light in the closet, found the knob, and walked out with tears in his eyes and some extremely sweaty palms.” Over the course of a year, he came out first to his best friend, then his 14-year-old sister, then his 22-year-old brother. “One night, the four of us went up to my parents’ room and shared the news. Truthfully, it was hard for them to understand at first. I was bombarded with questions as …

Behind his perfect life, a secret

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:34:04 -0500

Patrick says he had the kind of childhood kids dream about. “Summer vacations with the family, playing every sport imaginable, good grades, solid support, insanely close friends.” His “fit and undeniably Italian father” was a police officer and his “incredible mother” worked in the classroom, assisting children with special needs. He calls them “two of the most loving individuals and devout Catholics.” But, starting in sixth grade, he began a “personal struggle” that isn’t over. “The realization that you’re different when you’re in middle school is beyond difficult. The realization that you’re different in a way that society views as …

Facebook sparks a romance after 50-year gap

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:00:19 -0500

Andy was just 13 years old when he met the love of his life. After 52 years, he reconnected with her on Facebook and the couple now plans to marry.

When dinner becomes more than a family meal

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:17:53 -0500

Anna and Bill were both quite young when they married. Bill, an only son, had been living with his “lonely, divorced mom.” And family meals became a weekly battle.

She’s literally the woman of his teenage dreams

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:18:13 -0500

Dear Cheryl: When I was 14, I had a dream about a woman. We had known each other in a previous life. We met outside of a church and she was wearing a white dress. I was talking to someone and she walked by. I couldn’t tell what she looked like, but I found out about a year later when I had another dream about her. I saw her face and her smile melted by heart. I determined that she was the one for me. I’ve been quietly searching for her throughout my life, because something did not seem finished …

Husband finally sees wife’s side

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:07:05 -0500

A wife endures her mother-in-law’s criticism, but it took a trip to the hospital for her husband to recognize the issue.

Husband’s family blames her for everything

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:19:30 -0500

A wife has never had the best relationship with my in-laws, but has tried to do the right thing by keeping them informed about family health issues. But it’s never enough.

He’ll follow his true love to the ends of the earth

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:32:17 -0500

A globetrekking couple looking for ways to make a long distance relationship work. Or are they?

Time for the Plan B

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:11:06 -0500

We recently heard from Just Trying To Provide, who was married 13 years when his wife took their kids and left. She rented an apartment for them and the home daycare center she runs. JTTP said the biggest problem in their marriage had been the way she handled their finances. She would lend money to relatives and not tell him, putting them in a financial bind. He wants his family back. He’s seen a counselor, but his wife refuses to go. He says the two people with any influence on her are her pastor and her mother. I told him …

When you’re in love, the old rules don’t apply

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:21:20 -0500

Today’s column reminds me of a story I heard a while back — maybe 12 years ago or so. It happened at a wedding reception. The maid of honor ended her toast with, “Here’s to JDate!” The bride was humiliated. She had confided that particular detail to only her closest friends. In fact, she had created an entirely different scenario, something about it was raining, and he had an umbrella, and they ducked into Starbucks ... In other words, there was a time when using an online dating site branded you as a loser. Today, everyone’s online, from your grandmother …

Teenage summer lovers reconnect after 32 years

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:36:48 -0500

Not many summer romances make it to Labor Day, let alone Halloween. And teenage summer romances have an even shorter shelf life. But every now and then, one goes the distance. When Nina was a teenager in Chicago, her family would go camping in Wisconsin several times each summer. That’s where she met Randy. He was a teenager, too, working at the campgrounds. They saw each other every summer for four or five years and had a romance every one of those summers. “I really don’t know what broke us up. He lived in Wisconsin. I lived in Chicago. He …

She’s nobody’s catch but his

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:32:11 -0500

You know the way mothers and fathers say they love all their children equally. But they don’t. They have a favorite. Well, I freely admit that Dave in today’s column is one of my all-time favorite writers. DAVE: I love my girlfriend. I mean truly and deeply love her. Not only can’t I imagine my life without her, I can barely remember what it was like before she came along a mere 15 months ago. I suppose that neither one of us would qualify as the “perfect package.” I’ll leave my shortcomings to her to list, but here’s the person …

Wife can’t just run away

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:16:00 -0500

Dear Cheryl: My wife and I have been married for 13 years. Our biggest problem is the way she handles our finances. She’s very kind-hearted and would help family members in need and not tell me. I’ve helped family members also, but never to the point where it interfered with my family’s well-being. My wife, on the other hand, would constantly put us in financial jeopardy. Then, last June, she stopped talking to me. She said it was because I was never home. I was never home because I was working so hard to make ends meet. One night we …

Beauty is only skin deep

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:09:10 -0500

We all know you can’t judge a book by its cover, but we still do it anyway. We browse through Barnes and Noble, looking for something to catch our eye: a bright color or a flashy design. We know it has nothing to do with the quality of the book, but we can’t help ourselves. How about when it comes to people? We know character is more important than looks when it comes to choosing a partner, but we still find ourselves drawn to the shiny object across the room. DREW: Ladies, when you purchase a product and take it …