Staying Together For The Kids? When casual sex might trump true love

Dear Duana, Stuart and I parent well together…and that’s it. Our kids, adopted from abusive backgrounds, are doing well, but I’d like to find a way to conquer my loneliness while maintaining their stable homelife. Would an open relationship work, where we each pursue real love elsewhere but stay together for the kids? Dear Jeffrey, many might say you’ve hit on the perfect compromise~but I wish you’d just asked if casual sex would work out okay. Here’s why…

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Gay Or Straight, What’s The Difference?

I’ve been happily partnered with Michael for the past 17 years. Straights who know us are surprised by how long we’ve been together, or they want to know the secrets to our success. Are there really differences between gay and straight long-term relationships? Dear Steven, Congratulations! You found a good man before I did. Even better, you’ve kept your relationship alive and thriving for many years. What have you and Michael got going on—and what can *everyone* learn from it?

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Kiss-N-Tell? Part 2: What to say and how to say it when you've got a (sexual or other) Secret

Dear Duana, While I am way past having any Secrets 18 years post-wedding, I still have to wonder if there are any guidelines for the telling process. What kind of opening do you look for? By phone, by email, in person? And what if the newly acquired knowledge induces a screaming hairy cat fit in the other person? Dear Greystoke’s Mom, as it happens, the array of acceptable telling options may surprise you…

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Kiss-N-Tell? How to time telling our (Sexual & Other) Secrets to a new partner

Dear Cleo,In your letter, you want to tell your new date about your permanent but non-life-threatening STI*. You’re just leery of the timing. Many of us also have Secrets, parts of our health or history we know we’d need to tell any new partner…someday. But what day? Thanks to our survey respondents and empirical help, here are some guidelines that should stand all of us in good stead:

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Q&A from "Sex & The (Happily) Single Girl"

Friends With Benefits—why does that so often fail in practice—and why don’t honest discussions prevent the train wreck? Can condoms harm emotional attachment in a long-term relationship? Does social science affirm many religions’ sexual teachings—or not? Was virginity ‘til marriage ever the norm? Read on!

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