Entertainment
How Do You Introduce a New Partner to Your Kids?
On this chilly Monday, I’m hoping to ask a personal question to this wise and wonderful community: Do you have any advice on how to introduce kids to a new partner after getting divorced?
Freddie and I have been dating for about six months, and I’d love for the boys to meet him. As I’ve mentioned, he’s a high school history teacher with two boys of his own, and he’s really funny and sweet. We’ve talked about meeting each other’s children, but my kids are pretty sensitive to the idea of my dating. (I mean, your mom is your mom!) So, when the time feels right, I would love to have a loose, gentle plan in place.
Three notes for myself:
1. No PDA, of course!!!
2. Keep it quick, maybe a half hour? For the first meeting, short feels good.
3. Maybe Freddie can bring his dog to help break the ice.
As for the hang itself, Freddie could always come to our house, so the boys would be on their home turf and could go to their rooms if they craved a break, or we could meet in “neutral territory,” like our favorite ice cream shop or the neighborhood park with basketball hoops. Also, since they’re hesitant, we could wait a few more months to make the introduction, although it might settle their nerves to realize that Freddie’s a nice chill dad, not some scary looming figure?
It’s funny, during my 15 years of parenting, I’ve typically been able to trust my gut or read books to see what resonates, but now again something will throw me for a loop — and this big step is doing just that. I briefly mentioned my nerves in this Big Salad newsletter issue, and a few readers generously shared their own experiences:
“I introduced my two girls to my boyfriend last summer — we met for an afternoon walk, fed some ducks (I know, I know), and got ice cream. The fact that your guy is a teacher and a dad will help. Knowing kids and how to best approach them (sometimes by not approaching them) is key.” — Brittani
“I was in the same situation a year ago. My boyfriend came over to kill a spider (a black widow, so genuinely scary). He came over, introduced himself to my son, killed the spider and left. The whole visit lasted five minutes, and my son saw him as a helper and a hero. So, then when he came up in conversation a day later, my son was open to him joining us for a short outing.” — Katie
“I asked my 13-year-old how she wanted to meet my boyfriend, and she said, ‘Can he just come inside and say hey?’ He did that, and then a few weeks later, we went out to dinner and played cards. We let her pick where to eat. They developed a great relationship, and what helped is that she got to choose. It was my first relationship post-divorce, and she later told me, ‘It wasn’t not him, it was the idea of him.’” — Marlena
“My dearest friend is in a serious relationship with a dad of two boys, and her partner’s idea was SO GOOD: He’d told his kids a few things about her, and she eventually came over to their house to help them all rake leaves one afternoon. There was a clear, collaborative, low-stakes task, so the focus wasn’t on MEET THIS PERSON (or even conversation at all), and the boys were on their own turf and could choose their own engagement and proximity level throughout.” — Hillary
Thoughts? I’d be so grateful for any tips or wisdom. Thank you much, as always. xoxoxoxo Also, speaking of new partners, this line from my friend Erika’s newsletter made me lol:
P.S. Five things that surprised me about divorce, and the script we used to tell our kids we were getting divorced.
(Photo by Cara Dolan/Stocksy. The opening photo makes me wonder if Freddie, like Sally, will ask, “Is one of us supposed to be a dog in this scenario???”)
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
