There has been, for some reason (or more likely an unfortunate accumulation of reasons) a trend over the past several decades for parents to do the work of parenting in the isolation of their own homes - and not only that, this trend has overlapped with the other trend of much deeper parent involvement in raising kids. That you also represent trend No. 3, more people raising kids solo, has only exacerbated a close-to-no-win situation.

There's nothing like a good family when you're really up a tree.

There is a difference between your parents' not reporting to you everything they do and keeping secrets from you.

Attractions are things we all should be good at saying no to, because our Department of Attraction is arguably the least reliable and productive office in our entire brain.

I'm not a big fan of the white lie.

Separation is where you see if it works better with the adults in two different homes.

We all make deals with ourselves when it comes to the difficult people in our lives.