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I’ve been dating my boyfriend, “Don,” for two years. He has been deployed for four months. When he comes back home in early July, we were planning to move in together, but the more that I get to know his family the more I have doubts. He has a 22-year-old daughter who has two kids with one guy and another kid with another guy. She is not with either men, does not work, and gets welfare, but she is now going to college. Don also has a 20-year-old son who recently got his girlfriend pregnant. He doesn’t work either, and he is not interested in going to school. They both live with…

It’s time again for Shortcuts. For every question I’ll give my advice in just a few sentences because sometimes the answer to a person’s question is so obvious and the need to hear it so great that being as clear and frank as possible is simply the best way to go.

Three weeks ago, my 8-month relationship ended. I don’t know how much of the context is relevant, so I will just give you the whole background. “Jane” and I met for dinner three times before we were exclusive. After the second time we met, I learned from one of her friends, whom we ran into at dinner, that Jane was seeing somebody. I responded to this news by e-mailing Jane and telling her I was hurt. Then, I saw Jane the third time and I poured my heart out. I told her I really liked her. Five days later she had broken up with the guy she was casually seeing, and we…

My boyfriend’s daughter, “Kelly,” is getting married and sent her dad and me an invitation. Her dad and I have a child together, a result of our extra-marital affair. My boyfriend’s ex, “Natalie,” of course, hates me and blames me for everything. I recently found a text where she called me and my three kids derogatory names. I was so hurt when I discovered this text because it was there in black and white how much she hates me. At least Kelly shows me affection although for the past couple months since she moved with her mom she’s been very distant. Anyway, Kelly invited me to her wedding. I want to go,…

I’m 21 and my 19-year-old boyfriend broke up with me a couple of weeks ago. To make a long story short, he no longer wanted to be in a relationship. Since then we have been texting almost every day and FaceTiming (only). Even though he maintains that he doesn’t want to be in a relationship, when we are together it feels like we never broke up. He even looks in my eyes and tells me multiple times that he loves me. Part of me thinks that I should stop talking to him because he stated that he doesn’t want to be in a relationship. However, the other part of me truly believes…

My husband and I have been married for five years and we have two boys (age 2 and 4). We met when he was in the military stationed in my home town of Pensacola, FL. My husband is an Ohio boy, born and raised, and when he separated from the military his first reaction was to move back home. At the time of his separation he was going through a lot and really wanted to be somewhere familiar. I love my husband, so before even thinking of myself I agreed to move. A year after moving to Ohio I realize how much I want to go back home. Our relationship is suffering…

About eight months ago I got out of an abusive relationship that left me with social anxiety and few friends. For the past month or two an old acquaintance from high school and I have been getting to know each other better as we both work for the same company. “John” has been inviting me over with increasing frequency to hang out with some other guys I was acquaintances with in high school (I just graduated college). I’m so happy! I feel like I’ve been accepted into the group. We mostly get together to play video games or drink beer. Recently, we all had a fun night of playing drinking games around…

“I am 63 and my boyfriend is 68 years old. We’ve been in a relationship for 1 1/2 years and may consider marriage soon. But my problem is he has a single ‘play sister’…”