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: I am the mother of two—one 18-year-old and one 12-year-old. I have worked all my life at low paying jobs and finally decided to try some online courses to see if I could do it. So far, I love it, though that is not what I’m writing about. The problem is my 18-year-old… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am the mother of two teenagers, and I am trying to teach them how to live their lives with dignity, respect, and good manners, as I believe these qualities will help them to achieve a happy and more successful life. I am finding this very difficult to accomplish, as most of the… Read more »
On those frigid winter mornings when you jump in your car and patiently wait for the heater to warm it, you can be thankful to Margaret Wilcox for inventing the car heater. Margaret Wilcox was a mechanical engineer who was a recognized woman inventor during a time when women rarely even attended college, let alone… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I am just finishing my first year of university and I will be going home for the summer. This year I shared an apartment with another girl who was also in first year and she says we should share an apartment again next year. The problem is that I can’t imagine living… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I have had a friend since grade school. Through the years we have had a lot of fun and did a lot of things together. Now that we are in our late twenties, our relationship doesn’t feel the same anymore. For example, when I text Jasmine she takes forever to answer me,… Read more »
Dear Barb: My wife and myself and our two kids recently had to move back in with my parents. Because of the pandemic, we both lost our jobs and couldn’t afford our rent. We feel bad about having to do this. My parents are retired and have good pensions so finances are not an issue… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I am 18 years old and just graduated from high school. I live with my mom, who is a single mother. We do not have a lot of money, so I am planning to work full time while doing my doing me teaching degree online. My parents separated when I was 15… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi! My husband and I have been together for four years, having dated for almost two years before we moved in together. Everything was good with no major problems and I never saw a hint of violence in Jason, so I was devastated when he started choking me during an argument. That was… Read more »
Edith Dircksey Cowan was a social worker and politician whose focus was the welfare and rights of women and children. She fought against domestic violence and openly discussed venereal disease, contraception, and prostitution at a time when these things were kept in the dark. In 1921 Cowan was the first woman to serve as a… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am just approaching my fortieth birthday and having a difficult time. I am the mother of two teens. My life seems to be changing so much and even my relationship with my husband is not what it used to be. My kids are being typical teenagers: they have no interest in family… Read more »