Real Life - Mamamia

Secret purchases and hidden credit cards: My husband's 'financial cheating' broke our marriage.

Tara Blair Ball

'I was sexually abused at the age of 12. My mum knew but said nothing.'

'I had an affair with your husband. Now we're married, and I owe you an apology.'

Sick of being the "foster girlfriend" in every relationship? Here's how to avoid it.

Tara Blair Ball

'I led a guy mate on for 10 years. As soon as I found out he got married, I slept with him.'

The contact list anyone leaving an abusive relationship should have.

"They are harsh critics." 5 habits of chronically unhappy people.

"Why should I have to keep shrinking myself?" I'm done apologising for my child-free life.

'Within 7 months, I ditched my career and left an 18 year relationship. Here's what I learnt.'

April had known her ex wanted to hurt her. Then after a 'calm' phone call with him, she heard a bang.

'I've been on Ashley Madison for 5 years. Here's what I know about married men who cheat.'

'Two of my friends were victims of domestic violence. I had no idea until they left.'

'Who does this look like?' Fiona was scrolling online when she discovered a family secret.

Chelsea McLaughlin

For 20 years Amy's mum lied about her father. Last year she found out he was a sperm donor.

'After being bullied about my appearance, I became obsessed with working out.'

"It's gross and humiliating: I'm constantly ashamed by the state of my house."

YouTube star Hannah shared her wedding pictures online. Then the comments rolled in.

From a toilet accident to a racy pregnancy: 5 women's stories of embracing the 'awkward'.

'My stepdad always made me uncomfortable. Then I woke up to find him on my bed.'

"Harsh, cold and unnecessary": 5 women share who unfollowed them, and why it stung.

'My father sexually abused me when I was 7. It took me years to realise it happened.'

'Moments of severe heartache.' 6 women in long-distance relationships on how they're coping.

Billi Fitzsimons

In 1991, Pam Reynolds went into brain surgery. She says she could hear and see the whole thing.

"Not everything can be solved." 34 women share their words of wisdom during a disastrous year.

Eleanor Katelaris

"My sister died suddenly. The way I grieved made people uncomfortable."

"There's a type of woman that wears big earrings. You know the one."

'I had a problem with money. It almost cost me my relationship and my family.'

Janet and Ron had twin boys. As an experiment, doctors convinced them to raise one as a girl.

Advice

"People are not mind readers." 21 lessons everyone should learn before their 40th birthday.

"There is continuous deliberate hurt." 5 telltale signs that your relationship is over.

"Don't buy silk." 20 lessons everyone should learn before their 30th birthday.

Jessie Stephens

"Non Zero Days: The piece of self-care advice that changed how I live my life."

Jessie Stephens

"Don’t get a loan for a boob job," and 30 other lessons I've learnt since turning 31.

'Making jokes at your partner’s expense.' 4 tiny mistakes that will destroy your relationship.

"Live with them first." 21 women share what they wish they knew before getting married.

"My life at 38 looks so different to my life at 30. Here's what I'd tell my younger self."

Kristen Sharkie

"You’re worth more than you know." The 29 things I'd tell my 20-something self.

Jessica Wildfire

"Less is definitely more": 40 women over 40 share the beauty advice they swear by.

Tamara Davis and Amy Clark

"Moments of silence feel awkward." The 10 signs you're with the wrong person.

'My husband and I found provocative photos of our 14-year-old. Our reactions were poles apart.'

Constance Hall: "Too short, too fat, too loud." I spent my whole life being told I wasn't enough.

"Do yourself a favour": I'm a mum of 4, and I can tell you what smug parenting advice to ignore.

"Ask them out." Women over 30 share their advice for women in their 20s.

Billi Fitzsimons

My best friend stayed in a relationship with a married, abusive man. Now they're engaged.

'Never stop noticing the details.' After eight years of marriage, here are my eight pieces of marriage advice.

Michael Thompson

Nicole wanted to save 25k for a house deposit. It quickly exposed her "fair-weather friends".

ASK SEAN: "I'm so attracted to my fiancé, but he's never once made me orgasm."

ASK SEAN: "I'm scared to tell my new boyfriend how many guys I've slept with."

'My first salary was $12k.' Working in magazines was like the real-life Devil Wears Prada.

Nikki's friend slept with dozens of men before she died. After, Nikki learned what it meant to them.

"I live with guilt every day." Sophie Cachia has the ideal separation. But it's not easy.

"I felt like such a freak": Teresa Palmer's doctors seemed 'excited' by her pregnancy loss.

LGBTQI

"We wanted to become mums and our journey to parenthood was a little different to most."

"A new kind of conversion therapy." Why everyone is talking about J.K.Rowling... again.

'Sara Hegazy was jailed and tortured for a photo. It could have been me.'

'If there's one thing to learn from the Wilson Gavin tragedy, it's tolerance. On all sides.'

"Completely terrifying": When Magda Szubanski realised she was gay, she broke down.

'I'm intersex. It was a secret my parents kept from me for 17 years.'

Narelda Jacobs was pushed into her first marriage. 20 years later, she had to fight for the right to a second.

'We need to talk about the fear that every gay man of this generation still carries.'

The love of Elizabeth Gilbert's life died 10 months ago. But she still calls her every day.

At last. Schools will no longer be able to expel kids for being LGBTQI.

A former Sesame Street writer has shared the truth about Bert and Ernie.

Chelsea McLaughlin

Wren and Ayla's story: When your wife is trans.

WEDDING OF THE WEEK: Why Sarah and Megan couldn't wait for the yes vote to have their big day.

The one horrific thread that ties together the suspicious deaths of 27 men in NSW.

Jessie Stephens

The NRL just defended this viral State of Origin photo with three powerful words.

Jackie Chan's daughter says she is homeless because of her homophobic parents.

When my spouse came out as transgender, I wasn't prepared to share the title of 'Mum'.

'If you think marriage equality means we don't need Mardi Gras anymore, think again.'

When Janet Rice's wife transitioned, she had to choose between their marriage and her identity.

"Will you marry me?": An MP just proposed to his partner of nine years on the floor of Parliament.

"We live with his guilt." Melissa's son made a choice that cost 5 lives, including his own.

Megan Gale miscarried at 9 weeks. Lying there waiting for her procedure, she was recognised.

'After my stillbirth, I requested time off work. It was declined.'

'I spend my days handling dead people. This is what it's taught me about living.'

Emma Jane Holmes

Exactly ten years on, Brittany Murphy's mysterious death is still haunting Hollywood.

"You're grieving someone that you didn't even get to see": Heather Maltman on the heartbreak of miscarriage.

"I've never been loved like that before." Robin Bailey on life after Sean Pickwell's death.

"It still hurts." Libby Trickett on the 'weird grief' of early pregnancy loss.

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The Well

'After years of carrying the mental load, I "resigned" as my husband's manager.'

Lori Welch Brown

"My life at 38 looks so different to my life at 30. Here's what I'd tell my younger self."

Kristen Sharkie

'I suffered years of abuse from my narcissistic ex. But the aftermath was almost worse.'

A vlogger told his followers his girlfriend had been killed. He'd faked her death for clicks.

“At 17, finding a skin-lightening product was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

On a Sunday night in June, 2016, Noel and Mary went to bed. Before morning, Mary had drowned in her home.

'My brother died unexpectedly. Other people still managed to make it all about themselves.'

"You’re worth more than you know." The 29 things I'd tell my 20-something self.

Jessica Wildfire

The 6 tell-tale signs you're ready to move in with someone.

'Everyone kept congratulating me.' I fell pregnant in a pandemic, with a baby I didn't want to keep.

"Miracles can happen": A complete stranger saved the life of Allison Langdon's sister.

'I never thought I'd be scared of my own child.' My abuser is not my partner, but my teenage son.

Anne was in a monogamous marriage. Then an emotional affair set her on a path to polyamory.

Mandy Nolan: 'A message to the women who hate other women.'

'I'm a woman in her 40s with no children, and people don't quite know what to do with me.'

Two photos, 11 years ago: When Facebook Memories bring back the trauma you’re trying to forget.

'My first boyfriend died in the most brutal way. 3 years on, I'm finally learning to love again.'

Danielle Paparone

'Marriage, kids, success: I blew up my "perfect" life, and I've never been happier.'

Jasmin Van Laar

"I am exhausted from being this person": I'm an empath, and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

‘I have two engagement rings, one from my fiancé and one that sits in my wardrobe.’

Valentina Todoroska

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