Elizabeth Laura Nelson

As a person who writes about relationships for a living, I might be one of the people least in need of all this well-meaning advice, which usually amounts to clichés and can even veer into the territory of outright insults. What I need – what most of us need – is for people to hear me, and to trust me.

We’ve probably all heard it a million times: relationships are hard work.

Can’t calm down, won’t calm down.

How do you deal with feeling lonely; are you okay with having alone time?

In a marriage, should you really feel lonely that much of the time? And if so, then how lonely is too lonely?

Does chronic anxiety ever make you feel like a flake?

Yes, a lot of parents are assholes. But you know what? A lot of people are assholes; some of them happen to have kids, some don’t. I can’t speak for all parents, and I wouldn’t want to try. But speaking as one particular person with kids, here’s what I wish my childfree friends would understand…

How far should love go?

The only thing worse than being in a bad mood, is dealing with someone else’s bad mood.