Even though your husband is having trouble with your relationship with your friends, don't let your relationship with them suffer. Refrain from talking too much about your husband and his jealousy of your friendship -- they will certainly be in contact with him in the future, and it could be uncomfortable for everyone. Just explain that you're trying to figure out a way for you to continue being a good friend and wife and that sometimes it's complicated. If your husband refuses to talk to you about his feelings, it might be time to suggest couples' counseling. Because it's a neutral environment with a trained mediator, he might be more inclined to let you know what he's feeling. Sometimes he might not know what he's feeling, and talking to a therapist can help. If your husband refuses to talk to a counselor or therapist with you, it might be a good idea to book an appointment yourself. You need help sorting through your feelings and trying to understand why your husband is acting as he does. Because it's partly tied to your friendships, this is not a time to talk these issues over with your friends -- you need someone outside the situation.

Summary: Keep in touch with your friends. Talk to a therapist or counselor together if he won't communicate. Discuss your feelings with a therapist or counselor.

This process itself can be unpredictable, emotional and volatile. Its best to proceed with a clear mind and an awareness of the implications of the process. If the child is not yet born, your situation may be the simplest. Most states require couples to complete an Acknowledgement of Paternity form in the hospital, which is later filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics along with the birth certificate. Before signing the form, if you doubt that you are the father of the child, you can request a test be performed in the hospital after the baby is born, though either a cheek swab or a sample of cord blood. Postnatal testing can be done if you were listed on the birth certificate but doubt you are the father OR if you believe you are the father but were not listed on the certificate. If the baby is already born and the certificate already filed, circumstances might arise that cause you to doubt that a child you are supporting is your biological child. In this case, do you have reasons to doubt that the child is biologically yours? In other situations, you might believe a child is biologically yours but are not acknowledged as the father by the child's mother. In this case, do you have reasons to believe that the child is biologically yours? Although it can vary, most women have a 28 day cycle (with Day 1 being the first day of her period). This means they are only fertile from about Days 10-17. Its important to keep in mind that hard-and-fast rules about fertility always have exceptions, and babies have been unexpectedly conceived at all times of the month, even during a woman's period itself. Its also important to remember that birth control pills, condoms, or other preventative measures are not always successful. Using them does not guarantee that a pregnancy won't occur, just as not using them does not guarantee that it will. These reasons can be based on her own self-interests, the interests she perceives for her child, or protecting someone else's feelings. Understanding her reasons might go a long way in convincing her to allow a paternity test. She may not know who the father is, and may be embarrassed, afraid, or reluctant to make that information known. This can be for a number of reasons, including fear of public scrutiny, privacy concerns, or even concerns for her own safety. Especially in cases of sexual assault, a woman might not know or want to know who the father of her child is. She might worry that disclosing paternity might damage a current relationship. For instance, this might be the case if you are her partner but not the father of her child; or alternately, if you are not her partner but you are the father, she may worry that her current partner will be upset by the news that he is not the father. Regardless of whether or not your concerns about paternity seem well founded, if you are having doubts, it is often best to know definitively either way. Determining paternity is beneficial for the father, mother, and child. Paternity testing can secure your parental rights. If a child is yours, under most circumstances you can secure your right to participate in that child's life (through visitation, financial support, or even custody in some cases). Paternity testing can also help you avoid taking responsibility for a child if it is not yours. If a woman claims you are the father but does not want to provide proof, a paternity test is the only definitive way to prove if you are *not* that child's father, and thus not obligated to provide for it or fulfill your parental obligations. Confirmation of paternity is also in the best interest of the child. It can reinforce the relationship between a father and child, provide a social and financial safety net, provide legal benefits for the child such as inheritance rights, and ensure that the child's medical history is accurate. Even though determining paternity is most often the best choice, it can still have very real and lasting psychological and emotional effects. Knowing what these might be can help you deal with them as they arise. Whether the child is or is not yours, the results of the test will alter the rest of your life. Be sure that you have a support system (friends, family, trusted mentors, or counselors) in place to help you deal with the results of the test, whether those results are what you hoped for or not.

Summary: Determine that the paternity of the child is under question. Remember that most women are fertile only about 6 days in a given month. Recognize that there are many reasons a woman might not disclose paternity. Learn about the benefits of paternity testing. Prepare for the psychological ramifications of paternity testing.

Shelves can help organize any room by allowing you stack your possessions vertically. In a small room, wall-mounted shelves that hang are often the best choice. Mounted shelves allow you to store items against the wall without taking up floor space. You can also mount shelves above your bed, allowing you to store items both above and underneath. When possible, use furniture that doubles as storage. For example, instead of a bedside table, use a cabinet or trunks that can double as storage. Trunks can be attractive nightstands. You can use them to store winter blankets that you only need to access once a year when the weather starts to get cold. If you use baskets or tubs to store your belongings, use attractive containers that stack on top of each other. These container get your things off the floor and hide clutter Windows create storage problems. You can't hang shelves or place large furniture items in front of them. A window box provides storage space as well as seating. Get a large wooden box with a lid. It should be slightly shorter than the bottom edge of your windowsill. Fill it up with your possessions. Then, close the lid and cover it with some large pillows. Now, you have a place to sit and enjoy the sunshine, and you can store things there.
Summary: Use wall-mounted shelves. Use dual-purpose furnishings. Use stackable containers. Make a window box.