Motherly's Guide to Family Relationships, Partners and Friendship
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Relationships

It takes a village, and we're here to help you navigate yours. With advice about finding a village or maintaining yours to diving into family dynamics and the intimate relationship with your partner, we'll help you nurture and strengthen the bonds that matter most to you.

Marriage & Partnerships

The Freemans on the Motherly Podcast
Relationships

How parenthood transforms your marriage—the Freemans on connection, intimacy, and rebuilding after hard seasons

Updated Sep. 17, 2025
Relationships, Marriage & Partnerships, Podcast, The Motherly Podcast
Miss Rachel
Marriage & Partnerships

Ms. Rachel went viral for this powerful truth about marriage and parenthood

“There’s no Ms. Rachel without Mr. Aron.” That’s not hyperbole.

Updated Jan. 23, 2025
Marriage & Partnerships, Celebrity News, News, Relationships
Marriage after kids: A couple holding hands
Relationships

The honest truth about how my marriage has changed since having kids

If you asked me how my marriage has changed since having kids, I’d say we have learned how to communicate with each other more effectively.

Updated Dec. 23, 2024
Relationships, Marriage & Partnerships
viral instagram post: need a man who wants to be a husband and a father not have a wife and kids
Viral & Trending

You need a man who wants to be a husband and a father—not have a wife and kids

It takes a village, and we're here to help you navigate yours.…

Updated Dec. 03, 2024
Viral & Trending, Marriage & Partnerships, News, Relationships
Parallel parenting
Parenting

Parallel parenting: A practical guide to finding peace after separation

It takes a village, and we're here to help you navigate yours.…

Updated Nov. 26, 2024
Parenting, Marriage & Partnerships, Relationships, Single Parenting
TikTok video explaining nagging
Viral & Trending

Viral video brilliantly explains the ‘nag paradox’ and why it causes couples to fight

"You're not a nag for wanting partnership."

Updated Jul. 11, 2024
Viral & Trending, Marriage & Partnerships

Community & Friendship

Moms and friends hanging out having a fireside chat and laughing
Motherly

5 activities with friends that actually recharge your mom spirit

Real connection is the point. These simple, low-lift friend dates help you breathe easier, feel seen and return home refueled.

Updated Feb. 06, 2026
Motherly, Community & Friendship, Relationships
Moms having a brunch together and smiling
Motherly

9 realistic ways moms can prioritize time with friends this year

Friendship is essential to your well-being, not a luxury. These simple, low-lift ideas help you protect friend time in a busy season, without extra mental load.

Updated Feb. 06, 2026
Motherly, Community & Friendship, Relationships
Mom sitting on couch with baby and feeding baby a snack
Relationships

Why community is a survival tool for new moms

The first weeks home are beautiful and brutal. Building a circle of care is not optional. It is how you sleep, heal, and find yourself again.

Updated Jan. 06, 2026
Relationships, Community & Friendship, Grandparents & Extended Families
type A mom
Parenting

Are you a Type A or Type B mom? Here’s why you need the other in your life

Type A moms thrive on order and planning, while Type B moms embrace flexibility and spontaneity.

Updated Mar. 19, 2025
Parenting, Community & Friendship, Relationships

Blended Families

mom and daughter laughing on the couch on christmas - co parenting during the holidays
Blended Families

How to navigate the holidays when your kids have two homes

Updated Dec. 09, 2022
Blended Families, The Holidays
mom talking with kid offering step-parent advice
Blended Families

Step-parent advice: 10 ways to strengthen your relationship with your step-children

Living as a blended family can be beautiful, but it can also be a difficult journey.

Updated Sep. 06, 2024
Blended Families, Parenting
blended family spending time together
Blended Families

The 3 most important things you can do to ease the transition of blending your family

Change is hard, even for adults. Now imagine being a child, and having your entire world turned upside down—here's how you can help.

Updated Jan. 17, 2023
Blended Families
adele-wearing-gown-instagram
Celebrity News

Adele wrote a song for her son to help him understand her divorce

It takes a village, and we're here to help you navigate yours.…

Updated Oct. 07, 2021
Celebrity News, Blended Families, Life, News, Relationships, Single Parenting
dad and stepdad posing with daughter
Blended Families

These viral photos of a dad and stepdad are co-parenting #goals

David and Dylan made choices to cooperate instead of competing. To see each other not as the enemy, but as allies fighting for Willow's happiness. And those choices eventually made them friends and then family.

Updated Jun. 29, 2023
Blended Families, Viral & Trending
origin 7211 scaled - Motherly
Blended Families

This mom’s viral TikTok hack will make your child’s co-parenting schedule a whole lot easier

The wonders of a dry erase board and a simple formula can be easily replicated.

Updated Mar. 18, 2022
Blended Families, Viral & Trending

Grandparents & Extended Family

Grandparents visiting grandkids
Motherly

8 ways to plan a grandparent visit that feels joyful, not stressful

A little foresight turns “Are they staying how long?” into “That was so good for everyone.” Use these eight mom-tested strategies to protect routines, honor boundaries and make space for real connection.

Updated Feb. 06, 2026
Motherly, Grandparents & Extended Families
Happy grandparents sitting next to each other and holding their two grandchildren on their laps
Relationships

Keep grandparents in the loop: 7 tech-simple ways to share memories

Grandparents want the everyday moments, not just the milestones. These easy, low-tech steps help you share photos, videos and stories without creating extra work.

Updated Jan. 12, 2026
Relationships, Grandparents & Extended Families
Grandparents sitting outside with two grandchildren on a sunny afternoon
Motherly

How grandparents shape childhood memories

From bedtime stories to Saturday pancakes, grandparents can leave a gentle imprint that lasts a lifetime. Here is how to nurture the magic, even from miles away.

Updated Dec. 08, 2025
Motherly, Grandparents & Extended Families, Relationships
Mom sitting on couch with baby and feeding baby a snack
Relationships

Why community is a survival tool for new moms

The first weeks home are beautiful and brutal. Building a circle of care is not optional. It is how you sleep, heal, and find yourself again.

Updated Jan. 06, 2026
Relationships, Community & Friendship, Grandparents & Extended Families

The State of Motherhood

Motherly is the voice of modern motherhood, with an audience of more than 30 million users who consume Motherly content each month.

View More
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Divorce

birdnesting
Divorce

Divorced parents made one surprising choice—and their kids never had to pack a bag again

“In divorce, we decided to keep the kids in the house and have the parents switch back and forth,” Susan says.

Updated Jun. 18, 2025
Divorce, Parenting, Relationships
college drop-off - kid waving bye to mom
Motherly Stories

How shared custody prepared me for college drop-off

I stood there alone amidst the towering redwood trees waiting for the grief to hit. It didn’t.

Updated Oct. 02, 2024
Motherly Stories, Divorce
divorced parents with child happy
Divorce

I’m getting a divorce—why am I thriving compared to the other moms I know?

I am proud to say that I think we are building a better divorce than many people’s marriages—through open communication, putting our kids first and a high degree of mutual respect.

Updated Feb. 29, 2024
Divorce
Mom doing housework with baby in arms
Viral & Trending

Mom received an epic $215K divorce settlement for 25 years of unpaid housework—and we’re still clapping

Ivana Moral of Spain will be paid the sum by her ex-husband.

Updated Nov. 17, 2023
Viral & Trending, Divorce

Explore More

woman with manicure texting on cell phone
Relationships

Online dating apps can lead to marriage, but can a mom-friend app build a village?

Our editor shares her experience joining the Peanut app.

Updated Feb. 09, 2026
Relationships
Moms and friends hanging out having a fireside chat and laughing
Motherly

5 activities with friends that actually recharge your mom spirit

Real connection is the point. These simple, low-lift friend dates help you breathe easier, feel seen and return home refueled.

Updated Feb. 06, 2026
Motherly, Community & Friendship, Relationships
Moms having a brunch together and smiling
Motherly

9 realistic ways moms can prioritize time with friends this year

Friendship is essential to your well-being, not a luxury. These simple, low-lift ideas help you protect friend time in a busy season, without extra mental load.

Updated Feb. 06, 2026
Motherly, Community & Friendship, Relationships
Grandparents visiting grandkids
Motherly

8 ways to plan a grandparent visit that feels joyful, not stressful

A little foresight turns “Are they staying how long?” into “That was so good for everyone.” Use these eight mom-tested strategies to protect routines, honor boundaries and make space for real connection.

Updated Feb. 06, 2026
Motherly, Grandparents & Extended Families
Couple taking a walk while pushing baby stroller in front of them
Motherly

7 simple ways to check in with your partner during the winter season

Winter can shrink our daylight and our bandwidth. These quick, caring check-ins help you and your partner stay connected through cold nights, busy calendars and sniffle season.

Updated Feb. 03, 2026
Motherly, Health & Wellness, Relationships
Happy grandparents sitting next to each other and holding their two grandchildren on their laps
Relationships

Keep grandparents in the loop: 7 tech-simple ways to share memories

Grandparents want the everyday moments, not just the milestones. These easy, low-tech steps help you share photos, videos and stories without creating extra work.

Updated Jan. 12, 2026
Relationships, Grandparents & Extended Families
Image of pregnant surrogate sitting beside doctor at pregnancy check-up appointment
Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy

Surrogacy, explained with heart: building families through community

Surrogacy is more than a medical pathway. It is a relationship-centered way to grow a family. Here is what to know, how to start, and the support you deserve.

Updated Jan. 06, 2026
Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Parenting, Relationships, Surrogacy
Mom resting on comfy couch while holding newborn baby
C-Section

Loving your C-section scar: reframing recovery as strength, not setback

Loving a C-section scar is not about pretending recovery is easy. It is about honoring your body’s work, caring for your whole self, and writing a new story of strength.

Updated Jan. 07, 2026
C-Section, Birth, Relationships
Grandparents sitting outside with two grandchildren on a sunny afternoon
Motherly

How grandparents shape childhood memories

From bedtime stories to Saturday pancakes, grandparents can leave a gentle imprint that lasts a lifetime. Here is how to nurture the magic, even from miles away.

Updated Dec. 08, 2025
Motherly, Grandparents & Extended Families, Relationships
Mom sitting on couch with baby and feeding baby a snack
Relationships

Why community is a survival tool for new moms

The first weeks home are beautiful and brutal. Building a circle of care is not optional. It is how you sleep, heal, and find yourself again.

Updated Jan. 06, 2026
Relationships, Community & Friendship, Grandparents & Extended Families
Couple sitting in living room playing chess together
Intrusive Questions

Motherhood looks different for everyone; here is how to respond when people ask, “So when will you have kids?”

Whether you are pursuing fertility treatment, considering adoption, living childfree, or simply not ready, these scripts and strategies help you answer intrusive questions with confidence and care.

Updated Nov. 18, 2025
Intrusive Questions, Motherly, Relationships
Grandparents reading story to grandchildren while all snuggled on couch together
Grandparents & Extended Families

5 ways to help grandparents stick to your child’s routine

Love the grandparents and still protect the rhythms that keep your child regulated. These strategies help you set clear, kind guardrails that stick.

Updated Nov. 12, 2025
Grandparents & Extended Families, Motherly, Relationships
Family vacation with in-laws
Grandparents & Extended Families

The invitation that can quietly turn in-laws into strangers

“It’s okay to have family trips that don’t include every branch of the family tree."

Updated Nov. 21, 2025
Grandparents & Extended Families, News, Parenting, Relationships, Viral & Trending
Mom holding baby while her toddler gives her a hug
Relationships

Skin-to-skin isn’t just day one—why connection rituals still matter at 6, 16, and 26

Small, steady connection rituals help kids and grown children feel safe, seen, and close at every age.

Updated Jan. 06, 2026
Relationships, Teen, Teen Health, Teen Issues
Kids playing outside in the grass during the summer
Family Life

Raising kids in a multigenerational home: honoring everyone’s role

A kind, practical guide to make multigenerational living smoother, more connected, and fair for the whole family.

Updated Jan. 05, 2026
Family Life, Grandparents & Extended Families, Motherly, Relationships
Parents sitting together with their kid and reviewing schedule together
Motherly

Coach your co-parent like a teammate: 7 check-ins that change the season

Parenting is a long season, not a single game. These seven quick huddles help you read the field, adjust the plays and keep your partnership strong when life is busy.

Updated Nov. 04, 2025
Motherly, Our Partners, Parenting, Relationships
Grandparents New Parenthood
Relationships

The quiet work of grandparents in new parenthood

Grandparents are the invisible scaffolding in many new families. Here is what research shows about their impact, the pressures they carry, and how parents can partner with them in safe, loving, clear ways.

Updated Oct. 30, 2025
Relationships, Grandparents & Extended Families
How Grandparents Can Help
Grandparents & Extended Families

How grandparents can help (6 ways without overstepping)

Grandparents are the village personified, and a steady presence matters. Here are six simple, research-backed ways to support your grandkids and their parents without stepping on toes.

Updated Oct. 30, 2025
Grandparents & Extended Families, Relationships
Grandparents
Grandparents & Extended Families

What if paying grandparents for child care could solve America’s childcare crisis?

The childcare solution America keeps overlooking might already be living down the street.

Updated Oct. 08, 2025
Grandparents & Extended Families, News, Parenting, Relationships
The Freemans on the Motherly Podcast
Relationships

How parenthood transforms your marriage—the Freemans on connection, intimacy, and rebuilding after hard seasons

It takes a village, and we're here to help you navigate yours.…

Updated Sep. 17, 2025
Relationships, Marriage & Partnerships, Podcast, The Motherly Podcast
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