Baby, I Can Wash My Car

In her own defense, Ms Lavoie writes, "I intended to write something light about a very difficult situation...." I'm sorry, but to me, there just isn't anything "light" about the breakup of a marriage with two young children involved.

Wow some of you people need to go into counseling. You've managed to dissect the essence of this relationship, the relative fault of both parties, and the parenting skill of a divrcing mother through nothing more than a 900 word essay that focuses on something else besides TheChildrenMarriageTakesWorkI'llBeStrongForEveryone'sSakeblahblahblah. If only you could share your dimestore one size fits all relationship wisdom with the rest of us non Republicans, maybe we'd all have happy marriages.....Oh wait...YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEIR MARRIAGE. You have no idea whether or not this hunk of a carwasher/cat litter changer/bill payer is also a serial adulterer/wifebeater/dogkicker. Go back into your 2 story colonial, bury your head in the sand some more, and pretend you have an opinion.

Wow some of you people need to go into counseling. You've managed to dissect the essence of this relationship, the relative fault of both parties, and the parenting skill of a divrcing mother through nothing more than a 900 word essay that focuses on something else besides TheChildrenMarriageTakesWorkI'llBeStrongForEveryone'sSakeblahblahblah. If only you could share your dimestore one size fits all relationship wisdom with the rest of us non Republicans, maybe we'd all have happy marriages.....Oh wait...YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEIR MARRIAGE. You have no idea whether or not this hunk of a carwasher/cat litter changer/bill payer is also a serial adulterer/wifebeater/dogkicker. Go back into your 2 story colonial, bury your head in the sand some more, and pretend you have an opinion.

Wow, if I was this woman I think my main fears would revolve around raising my children as a single parent. Talk about priorities!

Wow, if I was this woman I think my main fears would revolve around raising my children as a single parent. Who knew having to clean her own car would outweigh all other possible outcomes of her pending divorce.

I was disturbed by the single, nonchalant mention of her children. Something like, "They'll be ok." And something about how they are figuring out whose house will have what. But they have no idea yet what the reality will be. She can't possible know now if they will be ok. Talk to any adult whose parents divorced. For the vast majority, it was a wrenching experience with life-long effects. Instead of her children, she's worried about cleaning her car. I don't know when I've read a sadder article.

Wow. Good for you, your marriage broke up so now you can wash your car. As a woman making six figures and taking care of myself at 23 I am very, very proud. You can pat yourself on the back for sure now. I'll be sure to tune in next week for your deep discussion on using the microwave.

Not again! New Hampshire readers suffered through the self-centered musings of Joyce Maynard for what seemed like decades. Unfortunately, even after she moved to California, her writings occasionally found their way to regional publications. So now we have another upper-middle-class woman exposing her family's private affairs. I regret that modesty and reserve are out of fashion.

I asked my husband for a no fault divorce after 34 years of marriage. All my children were over the age of 18 by then. I moved out and filed. He fought me every step of the way, until I suggested marriage counseling. He wanted to go himself, to fix himself. I lived apart for 1 and 1/2 years, so I know the fears . I had to do everything myself, but that wasn't too hard, as I had been doing that for 34 years anyway. But the fears were still there. No one was there to 'to catch your back'. I believe the author is saying, 'We're still friends, but we can't be married anymore'. For whatever reason they chose their course, it's their business, and yes, I believe the kids will be just fine. As long as they continue to know they're loved by both parents.

I have been through divorce, and I never thought it would happen to me, but then I never thought a lot of terrible things would happen to me, and they did in my life..........but if you are reading these comments, I want to say something to you that was very important for me, yes, I had to wash my own car, shovel my own driveway because he got the snowblower of course, and get my own vehicle inspected, but as I did for myself, it gave me a sense of strength and independency away from being so submissive to a greedy overcontroller without any care for me whatsoever, and I grew and grew and learned to be bolder, and if I had to trade the woman then who got taken really badly by so many people without her husband caring or stepping in for her, or the woman now, free from him, as difficult as things get sometimes, I would rather be the woman now........but I do give thanks for one man, my lawyer, who was the only real man in my life who ever fought for me........ he gives me hope that they (the knights) are out there, they are just hard to find........ they only protect themselves first usually, at our demise........best wishes-skd500

It's hard to believe that a thoughtful piece about the bittersweet feelings that separation engenders has tapped this gusher of vitriol. When did newsweek.com corner the market on seething readers?

I think this article is reflective of how many women feel during ???pre??? separation. I have been single for years and have learned to improvise almost anything that needs to be done in my home or life. However, I hear these same concerns and comments from married friends who are beginning to separate or are contemplating separation. This is no different then a man learning or relearning the daily chores his partner was previously responsible for. I think that many of the comment are harsh and extreme. I was a bit surprised by the author???s lack of knowledge on common household chore; however, giving the option I would rather never learn how to work the snow blower. I wish the author the best success and believe she will find pride in her new self reliance.

I think this article is reflective of how many women feel during ???pre??? separation. I have been single for years and have learned to improvise almost anything that needs to be done in my home or life. However, I hear these same concerns and comments from married friends who are beginning to separate or are contemplating separation. This is no different then a man learning or relearning the daily chores his partner was previously responsible for. I think that many of the comment are harsh and extreme. I was a bit surprised by the author???s lack of knowledge on common household chore; however, giving the option I would rather never learn how to work the snow blower. I wish the author the best success in her new independence. I believe she will find pride in being self reliant.

The author is representative of so many of the women now days, completly worthless selfish scum.

p.s. Washing your car at home in the driveway sends road salt, oil residue and detergent into lakes and streams. Maybe she and her husband should take note of that.

This woman is unemployed, gets confused by the snowblower, has a filthy car, two kids, and a house that smells like cat ***? I'm not tyring to be mean here but maybe this isn't the time to re-enter the dating market........