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· collected 2026-08-28 · by Lisi Tesher
The author of the letter shares her experience of finding a dead bird on her porch and asking her boyfriend to dispose of it, but instead of handling it gently, he kicked it off with his foot. She claims that this incident made her feel like her boyfriend doesn't care about her or her feelings. The advice columnist suggests talking to the boyfriend about why he treated the bird so callously, rather than immediately breaking up over the incident.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
About 10 years ago, I went on a date with a woman and we hit it off amazingly.
asserted
we → go → it
We dated for a short four months when she told me she was pregnant.
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she → date → me
I was 30 and she was 26, and together we decided to go for it.
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we → decide → it
We moved in together, had our baby, got married and had another.
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We → move → another
We had a lot of fun together but something always felt missing.
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something → have → fun
Last month, as we were getting into bed, she looked at me and asked if I felt we had made a mistake by getting married so soon into our relationship.
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we → get → relationship
I was honest and told her it felt like the right thing to do in the moment, but that truthfully we barely knew each other.
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we → tell → other
I asked her if she was happy and she said no.
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she → ask → her
And it hit me I’m not happy either.
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I → hit → me
We held each other and cried but agreed something needed to change.
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something → hold → other
Do you think we should just cut and run?
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we → think → ?
Or do you think there’s a different path for us?
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you → think → us
I think you need to discuss your options.
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you → think → options
You did the ‘right thing’ in the moment, you built a family and it worked for a decade.
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it → do → decade
That’s longer than many marriages last, so you should be proud of yourselves.
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you → ’ → yourselves
From my perspective, you have three choices: The first, as you say, is to cut and run.
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you → have → choices
The second option is to remain together unhappily, which isn’t healthy for you, her or the kids.
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which → remain → you
I don’t suggest this is your best choice.
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this → suggest → ?
The other option is to go to counselling.
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option → go → counselling
A marriage counsellor can help you two pinpoint where your disconnect stems from, and how, if possible, to find ways to reconnect.
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disconnect → help → ways
You’re right you barely knew each other when you fully committed and then you were forced to grow together as a couple and as parents from the get-go.
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you → ’re → go
You both need time to look in the mirror and figure out what you want out of life.
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you → need → life
The counselling isn’t the opposite of splitting up; it’s meant to help you figure out what you want, and if there is a possibility of staying together while still growing independently and being happy.
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you → split → what
This last option is the one I would advise you to do.
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I → advise → you
I came home from a weekend away to find a dead bird on my front porch.
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I → come → porch
Thankfully, my boyfriend was helping me unpack the car so I asked him to dispose of it for me.
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I → help → me
I was shocked when he carelessly kicked it off the porch before picking it up with a piece of newspaper lying around and tossed it in the bin.
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he → shock → bin
My heart actually broke and my feelings for him went up in smoke.
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feelings → break → smoke
How could anyone treat a creature so coldly?
uncertain
anyone → treat → creature
Out with the trash
A I would be shocked by that behaviour as well.
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I → shock → behaviour
A dead bird is still a bird and deserves kinder treatment.
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bird → deserve → treatment
I’m sure some people would even consider burying a bird and would be horrified at your story.
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people → ’m → story
Before you break up with your boyfriend over this though, I would talk to him about it.
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I → break → it
Ask him why he was so callous in his treatment.
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he → ask → treatment
Ask him if he would do the same for a mouse, cat, squirrel, dog, etc.
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he → ask → mouse
Think before you react.
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you → think → ?
Reader: “The writer stated they didn’t have a problem with bare feet in sandals, as long as they were pedicured.
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they → state → sandals
I’m a 76-year-old woman with gnarly toes and misshapen toenails, inherited from my father.
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I → ’m → father
As people who have hammer toes age, their toes frequently become increasingly misshapen and toe joints fuse into painful and awkward positions.
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joints → have → positions
This has happened to my toes; however, I believe that I’m entitled to wear sandals without socks if I wish.
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I → happen → socks
…and 5 more, not listed.
