Separating is not divorcing. Please keep that in mind. It is, instead, the second step in seeing if there's a better way to manage your family. Carolyn Hax More Quotes by Carolyn Hax More Quotes From Carolyn Hax Some people can work amid chaos or conversations, and some can't - and while there's no doubt an element of brain wiring to it, there's also the possibility of acquiring skills that improve your focus. Carolyn Hax focus skills people It takes awareness that it's not only not a bad thing to let others do things their own way, it is in fact an improvement. It makes life richer and more interesting. Carolyn Hax facts way interesting When you are stuck in a group of people who merely trade turns at talking about themselves instead of actually conversing, it could be a matter of their not really knowing how to converse as opposed to being too small-minded or excessively Facebooked. Carolyn Hax knowing talking people It's probably good for your body and brain to get moving occasionally. Carolyn Hax body brain moving Don't freight your answers with any notions of what you're "supposed" to do, and just see where your feelings point you. It can feel weird to be so formal about it, but if you're not used to doing it, then there's no shame in retraining yourself. Carolyn Hax shame answers feelings A lot of support gets withheld out of fear of awkwardness and misspeaking. Carolyn Hax awkwardness support I have no quarrel with people who lack the skill or temperament to care for small children. Carolyn Hax skills children people The sudden death of a partner while expecting a child is so universally understood as awful that I don't think anyone with any other weight to carry is going to get to same kind of sympathy - except perhaps people who lose a child. Carolyn Hax children people thinking If you are being shuffled around, then you should feel shuffled around. Carolyn Hax ifs should feels There's nothing like a good family when you're really up a tree. Carolyn Hax good-family tree All of us assign different values to things, and not all of those values are going to line up with others'. Carolyn Hax different-values lines different