Many Mondays I wake up at 5:45 a.m. and drive, half asleep, to a local pool for my morning laps, my every other-day routine for more than 20 years. I swim in complete silence, the water blissfully making conversation impossible. I breathe deeply, sinking into my body's rhythm, slowly awakening over those 30 minutes. Then I melt into a warm shower and drink a cup of coffee in solitude. Before daybreak, I relish the peace of not answering any questions or coordinating who's responsible for packing lunches or doing the day's grocery run, surrendering to this self-reflection practice before transitioning into my workday. I'm able to do this despite having two daughters, ages 15 and 12, and a committed partner with three teenage boys of his own. How? My partner and I don't share a home, having unwittingly joined the Living Apart Together (LAT) movement, and I can have these mornings when my kids are with their other parent.
Ben and I began dating several years ago, both mired in the midlife chaos of divorce and co-parenting, grieving the death of lives envisioned that had never quite materialized. We were messy and untidy, raw and fragile, brittle and hollow. But in each other we saw hope for order and fulfillment, if only we were willing to think differently about how to conduct our relationship.
Those who knew about us early on told us how adorable our "Brady Bunch" setup seemed; taken at face value, this party of seven might seem like a cute idea. Though there was validation in others' belief that our crew had the makings of a '70s sitcom, the image of a blended family was, to me, muddy and unappealing.
Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Good House Keeping - US.
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Denne historien er fra March 2023-utgaven av Good House Keeping - US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BLISTERED BITES
Shishitos are delicious all yearand creepy on Halloween!
DRINK if you DARE
Welcome, vampires, skeletons and zombies: This spiritforward duo may be strong enough to wake the dead.
Have a scary-good HALLOWEN
The spookiest day of the year calls for tricks and treats!
More Than a Walk in the Park
Agility training can be a fun and engaging way to get moving and bond with your pet.
Get More From Your Garage
Expert advice on three common conversions
The Mental Health Benefits of CATS
How our feline friends keep our minds purring
THE STRESS-BUSTING HACK THAT'S RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE
Breathwork is more than the wellness trend du jour- it's a science-backed route to relief from multiple modern ailments.
Do Men Really Not See The Mess?
The answer might surprise you. Journalist and author Gemma Hartley pulls back the curtain to reveal the invisible forces that drive this all-too-common cause of marital strife.
At-Home Devices
In this burgeoning category of DIY skin tools, technologies like microcurrent (low-level electrical current), radiofrequency (lowfrequency electromagnetic waves), lasers (pulsating light) and LED light aim to stimulate muscles or collagen production to firm and tighten.
Can Anything Really Firm Your Face?
Countless complexion brands tout skin-tightening solutions like firming skincare products, at-home devices and professional treatments. Here, our experts get real about whether these techniques can actually help skin bounce back once it starts to go lax.