Barbara Godin is a graduate of Athabasca University. She writes the “”Dear Barb” and the “Women of Interest” columns. As well, Barb has written many personal interest stories and enjoys connecting with others through her writing. She has been writing for The Voice since 2003.
If you enjoy reading Dear Barb, you can also purchase her curated collection, Dear Barb: Answers to Everyday Questions at her website, http://www.barbgodin.com.
Dear Barb: Hi, I am wondering what is going on with all these young people dying of drug overdoses. It used to be just the rock stars, you know, like Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, Prince, and them. But recently I have heard of so many deaths, even some relatives, who are in their… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I am in my early twenties and have been dating the same guy for three years. I am still living at home since my parents are fairly lenient and don’t mind if my boyfriend stays over. I am attending university and working part time, so I have been able to save a… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I have been involved with this guy for the last five years. Everything was good between us for the first year, but then it kind of went downhill. We started arguing about everything and nothing, but we continued the relationship and even moved in together. Initially everything was great but, in retrospect,… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, my friend and I are taking courses at AU and we often get together to study or work on projects. We are both in our late twenties and can’t afford to go to normal university since we are both working full time. AU works great for us. The problem I am having… Read more »
Dear Barb: My parents divorced many years ago. I lived with my mom while growing up, but I am now married with kids of my own. My mom has dated throughout my life but never lived with anyone or remarried until recently. She met George a few years ago and has kept their relationship fairly… Read more »
Kamala Devi Harris has been front and center in the media since August 11, 2020 when Presidential Candidate, former Vice-President Joe Biden, chose her as his running mate in the 2020 election. She is the first African American and Asian American female to be selected as the running mate of a major presidential candidate. Biden… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I am the mother of two children aged eight and ten. Recently our family received some devastating news; my father has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He was referred to the cancer clinic and his oncologist confirmed that the type of cancer he has is not curable, although with treatment dad… Read more »
Dear Barb: My parents divorced when I was 10 years old. My dad moved away with this new girlfriend and seemed to just forget about us. I loved my dad and really missed him at the time, but eventually I got angry and wondered why he never came back to see me or my brother. … Read more »
Dear Barb: I am in my early forties and work away from home. My two sons are eight and ten and I have been working away from home for the last four years. I usually manage to make it home for one weekend each month. My wife has been great, but I can see she… Read more »
My sister, Mary, and I were incarcerated in Ontario Training Schools for Girls, at 12 and 13 years old. Training schools are better known as reform schools. At that time, all I knew about reform school was what I had seen in movies and on television shows. Reform schools were portrayed as a place where… Read more »