How to Talk to Your Man

Here’s a surprise: Men are needier than women when it comes to intimacy. Women often get emotional support from other women—friends, mothers and daughters, for example. Men, however, crave intimacy and affirmation from their spouses, because according to a recent Chicago Tribune article, it’s the only place they get it. And after speaking to a […]

3 Ways to Deal With Differences in Desire

Does this scenario sound familiar? Kate and Jim are settling onto the couch, finally able to relax after a long day. “Hey,” Jim grins. “Wanna have sex?” Kate looks at him with exasperation. She loves her husband, but she just sat down and, unfortunately, nothing about her is pulsating with desire. “Not really,” she answers […]

Polyamory: No Limits to Love

Here on the North Shore most couples base their relationship on the expectation of monogamy. If you’re married, becoming intimately involved with another person is an act of betrayal, and unless you change your cheating ways, your relationship is doomed. But people who practice polyamory (Greek for many loves) don’t see it that way. They […]

22 Reasons I'm Not Leaving Him—A Valentine's Salute

  Tired of your Facebook friends’ posts about 8-carat sparkly baubles, surprise trips to Fiji or even just reservations for two at an exclusive restaurant? Yeah, we know. But true love comes in all shapes, sizes and expressions. The next time you wish your significant other was just a little more romantic, take the time […]

Sweet Somethings: Valentine's Day Memories

Need some authentically sweet tales to counteract all the saccharine of the season? Here are a few North Shore Valentine’s Day memories, starting with my own story. It was Valentine’s Day in 1981, and a boy in my class named John asked me to “go with him.” It was my first real “boyfriend,” and to […]

10 Ways to Be the Best Valentine Ever

With all the hype, Valentine’s Day has the potential to be a big let down for women. Here’s an idea—this year, you play Cupid. Why set yourself up to be disappointed by a lame box of chocolates or a grocery store bouquet of roses? Set the stage for romance, and you might end up feeling […]

Modern Dating: Finding Love in a High-Tech, Hook-Up World

Today’s mating game is being played by a whole new set of rules, and they’re complicated. In a recent phone interview, relationship expert Emily Morse, radio host of Sex with Emily and star of the new Bravo TV show Miss Advised, gave me the lowdown on how singles get together. Spoiled for Choice Online dating […]

Good Sex is Important in More Ways than One

Why is good sex important (especially compared to a good night’s sleep)? In September we kicked off a series of shows based on this column at the Wilmette Theatre, and our first panel discussion focused on that question. The answer may seem obvious—duh, of course sex is important—but the truth is, many of us aren’t feeling […]

Fresh: North Shore Match

Single on the North Shore? Whether you are looking for a lifelong partner or a date to an event, Amy Zern and Suzy McNamara can come to the rescue! Just one short month ago, Amy and Suzy decided to create a more personalized approach to the standard online dating site. They call North Shore Match […]

Teenage Heartbreak: How a Parent Can Help

“I just want to be friends.” Devastating words to hear in any romantic relationship, but especially tough for a teen who’s hearing it for the first time.   When her son and his girlfriend went to different colleges, he expected that they would keep dating, reports a mom in Deerfield we’ll call Brianna, but unfortunately […]