It's not the simple event of a parent's divorce that affects a child's view of relationships - it's how well or badly it was handled and how much exposure to friction the child has before the divorce occurs. So probably your parents kept the worst of the conflict away from you and ended it in a fairly calm and dignified way? I don't model my relationship or my view of them on anyone because each one is different to the next. The dynamics are always variable because you're dealing with individuals.

"he's just not that into you" sums up marriage nicely.. a crock of horse s---!

***Oxymoron alert!!!!*** "Psychologists and other smart people." Eh? They have 'psycho' as the first part of their job title.

***That's more like it alert*** "Two happy parents apart is (are?) better than two unhappy parents together - and I challenge any psychologist to dispute this."

Hmm, relationship role models. Well, my mates Duncan and Ange, they're pretty cool, but none of you guys know them, so that's no help. As for famous people, from what I've seen I like Pink and Carey Hart. No one's perfect, you've just got to find someone ad F'ed up as you who puts up with your crap and is nice to you most of the time.

I don't' think celebrities have the same relationships issues as us normal folk, think of Britney Spears when she goes out the paparazzi is all over her and it's in the news, websites etc where normal people can go out on a date and have nobody but the participants know of it.

Sure it's a little different with NZ celebs as they aren't in the Britney realm of fame.

I don't think other people's relationships have much bearing on your own relationships, I think your own personal experience is what counts the most.

I've always said that my parents were together to have us 4 kids and now they are with the people they deserve to be with - and I am SO glad my Mum has found someone who cares and loves her...

One of my fave movies sums it up for me: We write our own vows but seem to be scared to write our own rules. Every relationship is different, made up of two individuals. While we can learn things from others, eg our parents, ultimately we need to figure out what works for our own situation.

Personally, my parents taught me that two very different people can compliment each other. As a child I remember they always drew off the others strengths and supported each other where needed. It wasnt always a bed of roses, but everyone knew they were in it together. That lesson has been invaluble to me in my own relationships.

It is always sad when any relationship breaks up.

My relationship *looks* wrong to most people. It looks like I am 'the other woman'. The woman who looks like his partner tricked him into becoming a father, and he's trying to do the right thing by his kid and separate in a way that does the least damage to his kid. He and I love each other, have fun together, are respectful, open and honest and can rely on each other. He and her argue all the time, and don't respect or appreciate each other, and certainly are not honest with each other.

I feel like I am judged by society as being in the wrong. I feel like most of my friends and family don't approve, although my family have got better. I bet a lot of people reading this will think I'm "breaking up a family" etc etc.

It takes a lot of strength, but I believe that just because a relationship looks "good" or "bad", or "right" or "wrong" doesn't mean it is.

Suffice to say I have no relationship role models!

"Psychologists and other smart people are quick to say..." That's not true. Psychologists are scientists and aren't allowed to make statements without evidence or referencing someone else's evidence. Journalists are supposed to reference things too... but I think Greer just makes up what she thinks other people think.

Nope dont really look up to any one every relationship I see is pretty average or down right crap but that is kind of a good thing I can look at them and try and learn from their mistakes. But no one is perfect so I just hope that I've found happiness and can hold onto it

I totally agree with 'not knowing what goes on behind closed doors' and I try to not judge other relationships. Relationships can appear a certain way, when in fact they could actually be the opposite.

My parents split when I was about 14 - they had kept their troubles hidden because they thought that was the best thing to do by their children, where as in actual fact, this made the break up so much harder for us because we didn't understand that they didn't love each other any more. I think if we had known that they weren't happy then it would've made the divorce a lot easier to comprehend. Their hearts were in the right place as far as not trying to hurt us kids or get us invloved, but hindsight proved this to be wrong.

I don't have relationship role models - I don't know of anyone that I would want put on this pedestal.