Dear Wendy Turns Eight!

Today is this site’s eighth birthday! If she were a human, she’d be in second grade, would probably be reading chapter books, and would be mastering the art of negotiation (“If I finish all my homework, can I have 15 minutes of screen time before bed?”). But she is not a human; she is a website and a community, a passion project for me, and maybe a way to help you get through a work day, decompress in the evenings, or crowd source for advice and tips on everything from engagement rings to where to get the best pizza on a weekend trip to Chicago. Thank you so much for being part of this little experiment that I hope continues for a long time. Thank you for helping to financially support it with your page views, your monthly donations and your affiliate purchases, and thank you for the emotional support you’ve given me and each other over the years. Below are some favorite posts (mine, yours, Google search engine’s) since 2011. If you have a favorite post or memory not included below, feel free to share in the comments.

On Dating, in general:

A Dating Tip I Disagree With
Dating Tip: Try Going Against Type
10 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Dating Life and Relationships

On Happiness, in general

Write the Happiest Story You Can in Four Words
“Isn’t Life Boring and Lonely Without a Relationship?”
“I’m So Unhappy in My Marriage” Or: A Guide on How to Be Happy

On Long Distance Relationships

“In a Long Distance Relationship, Who Should Be The One to Move?”
“I’m Overwhelmed in a LDR”
Updates: “Overwhelmed in a LDR” Responds
8 Tips For Transitioning out of a Long Distance Relationship
15 Tips for Surviving a Long Distance Relationship
8 Things You Need to Do Before You Move For Love
From the Mailbag: “I’m Going to Move for Love, Despite Your Advice Not To”

On Breakups:

Lessons From Divorce
“When Do You Know It’s Time to Break Up With Someone?”
Your Turn: “How Can I Get Over my First Broken Heart?”
20 Tips for Surviving a Breakup
10 Ways To Move On From a Breakup
My Best Breakup Lesson
What Lessons Have You Learned From Your Breakups?

On Moving in Together:

What We Wish We’d Known Before Moving In Together
15 Things Couples Should Do Before Moving in Together

On Friendship:

Showing Up: The Single Most Important Thing A Friend Can Do
How to Make Friends After College
“Should I MOA From This Friendship?”
Is Facebook Ruining Friendships?

On Weddings:

Your Turn: “His Family Ate All Our Reception Food… Before the Wedding!”
“My In-Laws Never Gave us a Wedding Gift”
“Did My Friend Just Ask Me to Not Be Her Bridesmaid Anymore?”
“I Refuse to Pay for My Daughter’s Wedding to Her Horrible Fiancé”
My Fiancé’s Groomsman Has No Teeth!
“Should I ask Wedding Guests Why I Haven’t Received a Gift From Them?”
“Being a Bridesmaid is Breaking My Budget!”

On Marriage:

17 Things Every Couple MUST Discuss Before Getting Married
8 Secrets for a Happy Marriage
The Six Things You Need for a Happy, Longterm Relationship

On feminism and marriage:

Getting Personal: “I’m Conflicted About Being a Feminist and a Wife”
“He Wants Me To Take His Name, But I Want to Keep Mine”

On Motherhood:

“How Do You Know When You’re Ready To Have Kids?”
20 Things Everyone Should Do Before Having Kids
My Toddler Doesn’t Like Me And Other Depressing Confessions
“When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Work”
The Joy is Louder Too
“Will I Lose All My Friends When I Have Kids?”
To Have or To Not to Have Another Baby, That is the Question

On miscarriage and infertility:

“Everyone’s Getting Pregnant But Me!”
It’s Personal: My Chemical Pregnancy
“After My Miscarriages, My Friend Abandoned Me When She Got Pregnant”
Getting Personal: “After My Miscarriage, A Dog Saved My Life”
“Should I Tell My FWB About My Miscarriage?”
“How Should I Tell My Infertile Sister I’m Planning to Get Pregnant?”
“I’m Jealous of My Sister’s Pregnancy”

On choosing to be childfree:

Getting Personal: “Children Aren’t for Me”
“My Parents Keep Bugging Me About Having Kids”
“He Wants Kids But I Don’t. Can We Still Date?”
The Secret To Happy Relationships: Don’t Have Kids?
“How Do I Find Meaning in Life Without a Wife and Kids?”

On Grief

On Grief (and messages from beyond)
Women Discuss: How to Express Condolences (And Why It’s So Important!)

A guy’s perspective:

How I Get A Girl to Break Up With Me
His Take: “I’m a 28-Year-Old Virgin. Does That Scare Guys Off?”
His Take: “What Do Guys Think About First-Date Sex?”