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After realizing that my post-divorce love life has been more fantasy than reality, I recently signed up for a love-coaching seminar to help get me back into the dating game. Coming from a divorced homeI always craved big, boisterous holiday celebrations. Before we got married, they presented the image of happy, functional marriages on trips back to his hometown, but over the course of our marriage, the illusions faded and the truth came out. Some family members had serious alcohol problems, including multiple DUIs, and others struggled with infidelity.

His family was full of enablers.

I saw this dynamic when his father family everyone else at a gathering not to give his brother alcohol but then handed him a beer an hour later. To him, the fact that his parents never argued indicated a good relationship.

However, when I met them, his mom spent the weekend directing passive-aggressive digs at her husband. To me, that behavior revealed suppressed anger and hinted that while their marriage had lasted, it was neither healthy nor happy.

Patel, love coach and creator of the Soul Level Love program. One night the subject of our exes came up. Not prioritizing and making time for each other is passively opting out of a relationship. After an intense few months with David, the texts slowed, the communication dwindled and his schedule grew busier. Are you a player?

Would I do that if I was dating an asshole? Reassured, I ignored the gut instinct that told me to take a step back.

I later regretted that decision when I found texts on his phone proving that he dating dating and sleeping with several other women without being honest about it. I no longer seek to date men on the basis of them being close with their family. SheKnows is a part of Penske Media Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Dena Landon. View All. October 4, at pm EDT. How one writer is trying to bypass family drama. Leave a Comment Comments are closed. Powered by WordPress. Parenting Expand the sub menu. Health Expand consider, can hookups turn into relationships all family menu. Living Expand the sub menu. Entertainment Expand the sub menu.

My family doesn't like my partner, what can I do to make things better?

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