"I just recently found out that I am pregnant and do not know how to tell
my boyfriend. Can you give me some suggestions?” - Beth (
First, be
honest with yourself. Spend time doing some real soul-searching to determine
what option is best for you. Then be honest with him. Set aside a time and
place to talk to him where you won’t be interrupted and can have total privacy.
Let him know how you feel about it, whether you’re excited, scared, nervous, or
confused, and tell him what options you are considering. Although it will be
difficult, being as mature and strong as you can will encourage him to do the
same. Ask him for all his thoughts and feelings on the matter. Openness and
communication are the keys to making the right decision.
“My boyfriend and I recently moved in together
and I want to pool our finances a bit more when it comes to groceries. How
would I bring this up without offending him in some sort of way?”
- Janelle (
Moving in
together isn’t always the walk in the park you expect it to be, and it’s much
better to confront issues sooner than later (before bad habits are formed or
resentment builds). Things should be equal. You split the rent, the bills, and
the groceries, and keep credit cards, student loan payments, and personal
purchases strictly separate. One easy
way to keep it simple and straightforward is by having both of you keep the
receipts from the grocery store on the refrigerator (along with the internet,
gas, and electric bills). If you paid for more of the groceries, he can simply
pay the difference on other expenses at the end of the month. Don’t worry about
offending him, this is a practical matter! It will only get personal if you let
the problem get out of hand.
“My boyfriend never calls me. I always end up
calling him. I feel as if I'm doing all of the work in the relationship. Is
there any way to make him realize that I feel this way?”
- Connie (