According to a recent article in The New York Times, titled Better Loving Through Chemistry, a relatively new online dating company called ScientificMatch.com charges a one-time fee of $1,995.95 for a lifetime membership. The premise of their particular take on scientific, or chemistry-based, online dating is that we tend to be attracted to individuals who give off a scent different from the scent released by our own bodies' immune systems. Does that mean that participants are basically paying the company to help them identify individuals who smell good? Personally, I'm a fairly smell-sensitive person, and that particular sense has only grown more keen since having children. (I once complained about the smell of apples sitting on my kitchen table, downstairs.) So I get that our sense of smell, and our preferences related to what we smell, naturally affect our sense of attraction. But there's so much more to relationships than physical attraction! Read more...Would You Pay an Online Dating Service $2K to Tell You Who Smells Good? originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 20:32:51.Permalink | Comment | Email this

This week's highlights include blog posts about the divorces of two high-profile politicians, a call for child support reform, potential fall-out from international custody battles, and more. On the Blogs: John Edwards and Little Quinn - Wayne has some words for former presidential candidate, John Edwards, on becoming an active presence in his daughter's life. Jenny Sanford: The Consequences of Ignoring Red Flags - Regarding another high-profile split, Cathy points out the red flags that might have prevented a lot of heartache. Enough is Enough: A Call for Child Support Reform - Katie writes about the need for child support reform in Florida, but the issues certainly aren't limited to the Sunshine State. In the News: US Warns Japan Child Custody Laws Could Harm Ties - Due to the approximately 70 outstanding international child custody disputes between the U.S. and Japan, the U.S. is now urging Japan to revise their current child custody laws, which permit only one parent to have custody in divorce cases. Vermont Guard Backs Bill on Child Custody - The Vermont National Guard supports a bill that would protect military parents' child custody rights. The Best Way to Sort Out Child Maintenance - The UK-based Times Online explores the differences between entering into a private agreement, versus going through a child support agency and obtaining a consent order. Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com. Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Highlights for Single Parents: 31st Edition originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 10:35:04.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Do you want to stand out at work and increase your income potential this year? Consider taking a free online course to brush up on the skills you need most. From basic business skills to technical computing knowledge, there's a lot that you can learn from an online course. For example, About.com's Guide to Web Design has a Weekly Web Design Class, and the U.S. Small Business Administration has an online course called Need a Job? Consider Starting a Home-based Business. For more information, read Free Online Courses. Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel: Single Parents' Thrifty Thursday Blog Archive Save Energy,Save Money, Save Your Sanity Saving Money: Know What Is in Your Teen's Closet Help Military Families Save Money With Expired Coupons Rethink Resale Stock Up on Birthday Presents Save Money with Cloth Diapers Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Thrifty Thursday: Advance Your Career With Free Online Courses originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 05:00:38.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Many couples, including the two of us, like to celebrate and reaffirm their love and commitment for one another by renewing their marriage vows, either privately or publicly, and by saying "I do" again. Whether you renew your vows on your anniversary, on the anniversary of the day you met, or on a holiday like Valentine's Day, make sure you keep the event simple. If you are considering having your marriage vows renewed, read our article to learn about the legalities of renewing your marriage vows, why people want to renew their marriage vows, what we recommend you do, and what we recommend you don't do. For example, we don't think you should make your renewal of vows look like a second wedding and we don't think you should ask for gifts! Reaffirm Your Love and Commitment originally appeared on About.com Marriage on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 02:01:04.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Are you still trying to decide what to give your spouse for Valentine's Day? The best gift you can give is a more sensitive, loving, dependable, considerate, intimate, kind, and positive you! In other words, look at behaviors you have that are hurting your spouse and your marriage. Then decide to stop doing them. Change doesn't come easy for many of us. Replacing a bad habit or behavior with a positive behavior is easier than just stopping the bad habit. You can do this! Bob has managed this past week to keep the house at a temperature that I can live with. It's been great to not have to go outside to cool down! I agreed to having the electric blanket back on our bed so he isn't cold at night. We didn't bother to hook up my side of the blanket to the controls ...Give the Best Valentine's Gift Ever! originally appeared on About.com Marriage on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 02:33:16.Permalink | Comment | Email this

According to an article in The New York Times, research is showing that marriages are happier and divorce rates are lower in marriages where the husbands are taking on more housework and the wives are working outside the home. "And the blurring of traditional gender roles appears to have a positive effect. Lynn Prince Cooke, a sociology professor at the University of Kent in England, has found that American couples who share employment and housework responsibilities are less likely to divorce compared with couples where the man is the sole breadwinner." We think this increase in marital stability should be considered good news. However, it doesn't appear to be positive news for those who continue to claim that a woman's place is in the home, or for women who have difficulty giving up their gatekeeping role at home, or for men who have an expectation that they should be the only one bringing home the bacon. There are probably a lot of different reasons why the changing roles in marriage are helping to lower the divorce rates. Fewer financial problems and better communication were two factors that made our marriage stronger when Bob was a stay-at-home dad. Tara Parker-Pope noted "The rate peaked at 23 divorces per 1,000 couples in the late 1970s, but has since dropped to fewer than 17 divorces per 1,000 couples. Today, the statistics show that typically, the more economic independence and education a woman gains, the more likely she is to stay married. And in states where fewer wives have paid jobs, divorce rates tend to be higher, according to a 2009 report from the Center for American Progress." Since financial pressures are one of the main causes of divorce, the decisions you two make regarding employment scenarios needs to be based on what makes sense for both of you. Realize too, that through the years, circumstances will probably change and your decisions will need to be reevaluated. Researchers Discover the Key to Happier Marriages and Lower Divorce Rates originally appeared on About.com Marriage on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 00:38:32.Permalink | Comment | Email this