Ready for a baby? Some are turning to websites to make and raise kids — sans romance
When he was in his 20s, Darren Spedale used to joke with his friends that if they made it to their 30s without finding partners, they'd pair up and have...
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‘It’s time for us to talk’: Most rekindled romances start with an affair, but they tend to last
Linda Waud and Charles “Ben” Waud dated through most of high school and a year of college, and then went their separate ways. It wasn’t until they bumped into each...
What it’s like becoming a parent after 40: ‘He’s forcing me not to be my age’
After multiple miscarriages and a long bout with infertility, Iris Waichler gave herself one more chance, at age 45, to become pregnant. She had a baby. But little did she...
‘Everyone brings their own baggage’: Couples counseling more effective if done in early signs of trouble
You’re arguing with your significant other. Is it time to go to couples counseling? Or is it too late? Or maybe it’s too soon? Does counseling even work? Every relationship...
You dislike your child’s friend. When is it OK to step in?
If we could take a magic wand and choose our children’s friends, chances are, they’d be surrounded by the smartest, sweetest, most nurturing kids at school. Unfortunately, there are sure...
Got a friend who’s divorced? You may be next, according to science
Got a divorced friend? You might be next. It turns out that divorces are contagious. Laura Soncrant of Chicago filed for divorce in February, after her two best girlfriends got...
The amenities arms race: Do souped up apartment buildings attract – and keep – Chicago renters?
If you had the choice between renting a pricey apartment in a building decked out with a pool, event space, gym and a dog run, or saving hundreds per month...
Should you cave in and give your 8-year-old a smartphone?
Lucca Reinoso, 11, has been asking for a phone since she was 8. Apparently, said her mother, nearly all of Lucca’s friends have had phones since they were 8, so...
Are you afraid of commitment? It’s more than just not being ready
Julia Tarnorutskaya, 35, and her 39-year-old boyfriend have been dating for seven years. She’s hoping he’ll be ready to move in with her soon, but she doesn’t want to put...
How seriously should parents take kids’ opinions when searching for a home?
In choosing a new home, Camille McClain’s kids had a single demand: a backyard. That seemingly reasonable request turned the Chicago family’s home hunt upside down, as there weren’t many...