That marriage is supposed to be a life-long institution is no doubt. This is why you find such declarations as “for better, for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health,” as part of the marital vows taken by couples during wedding ceremonies, even though, most people know that these are very high stakes and may turn out herculean tasks for some partners to adhere to as time and tide may dictate. In fact, should the body and/or spirit of couples wane, parents and elders often step in, to ensure that the love boat does not sink?

I had not realised just how valuable my own parents’ presence in my children’s lives would be until I moved back to the family home with them – and brought my three children with me”, said 41-year-old Ijeoma, a pharmacist with a pharmaceutical company. “I now appreciate the wonder of grandparents – they know how to quell a toddler’s tantrum, how to cajole a reluctant baby into eating. This is because they have experience and wisdom. After all, they’ve practised with their own children … “

I feel so helpless as a mother. A few years ago, my daughter became involved with a very nasty and violent boyfriend. He was beating her up so savagely the police had to be involved. To be safe, she let go of her apartment and moved in with me.

Is there any plausible reason why a supposed best friend sleeps with her friend’s partner? When Jennifer found herself in what she termed an ‘embarrassing’ betrayal of her best friend, she justified her action by trying to convince friends she never planned to seduce Chris, her friend’s fiance of two years. “Timi and I had been best friends when we were both in secondary school,” explained Jennifer. “But after we went to different universities, we’d lost touch only to link up over ten years later through a mutual friend.

A lot of medical research into sleep habits over the past 12 years suggests that couples who share a bed tend to live longer and stay healthier than those who sleep alone. That women in long-term relationships fell asleep faster and woke up less often than single women, leading to them having lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that has been linked to heart disease and depression.