Life Advice
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All Siblings Should Help With Elder Care
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm currently in a tough spot where I'm considering moving out of my parents' house in the suburbs of Chicago, but my two older siblings, who live nearby, aren't stepping up to help out with our parents' care. I want to be independent and pursue my corporate career, but I also feel guilty about leaving my parents, who are both in...Read more
Husband Should Teach Kids To Celebrate Their Mom
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Yet another Mother's Day and birthday have come and gone with no gift from my husband. What's worse, to me, is that he has done nothing to show our two little boys how to acknowledge Mommy on any special occasion.
On many occasions over the years, I have told my hubby point-blank that I don't care if he just takes the boys to...Read more
Getting Curious Instead of Getting Defensive
Dear Annie: After reading the letter from "Family Friend," who is concerned about the development of the 2-year-old child of a friend, I wanted to share my own experiences. Perhaps this child may not be speaking well because he is not hearing properly.
My daughter-in-law (special ed teacher and school counselor) felt that her eldest child, my...Read more
Ask Amy: Family members crowd in too close
Dear Amy: I was adopted as an infant and found my birth mom when I was in my 30s. She had gotten pregnant in high school and gave birth to me at 17.
We lived in different parts of the country and after I found her, we saw each other once a year for over a decade until she died suddenly last year.
After her death, her brothers and sisters, who...Read more
Young Adult Eyes New Path For Happiness And Support
DEAR ABBY: I'm new to the LGBTQ+ community and finding it tough. I'm torn between living a happy life or being around my family, who don't 100% accept me as bisexual/asexual and involved with a transgender female. My new partner and I are happy together, but my family doesn't approve that I'm finally feeling happy and accepted by someone who ...Read more
The Seeds Already Planted
The call came early in the morning from his mother. The matriarch of my husband's family, their nearly 100-year-old grandmother, had passed away.
Unbeknownst to me, funeral events happen quickly in their culture; the wake was scheduled for that evening, and the church service and burial would follow the next day, only a day after she died at ...Read more
Recovering From Wife's Infidelity -- 25 Years Later
Dear Annie: More than 25 years ago, my wife cheated, likely multiple times with multiple men. She wanted to divorce me, but I convinced her to go to couples therapy. I won't go into all the details, except this: The therapist recommended that she not share who the affair partner(s) were. They were a husband-and-wife team of therapists, and I ...Read more
Ask Amy: Spouses disagree on sharing inheritance
Dear Amy: My mother recently died, and I’m expecting a relatively substantial inheritance from her (my dad died several years ago).
My younger brother, also not living, has two adult children.
My mother (who was a difficult person) originally told me she intended to halve the inheritance between my brother and me when he was still alive, but...Read more
Husband's Volatile Temper Worsens After He Loses Job
DEAR ABBY: When my husband, "Wayne," and I were dating 15 years ago, he would occasionally get angry and stalk off or bust a bag of chips, but after I gave him time alone, he'd be back like nothing happened. He always said that episodes such as this were something he was "working on."
After we had children, the incidents continued occasionally....Read more
Friends On Same Career Path Resent Each Other
DEAR HARRIETTE: My close friend and I are both actively seeking employment in the same city and industry. We both recently lost our jobs at the same company and have been looking for about two months now. We live in New York City and have a shared circle of friends we are networking with and asking around for open positions. It seems to have ...Read more
Gag Gift Falls Flat
DEAR MISS MANNERS: While my best friend and her partner do not believe in traditional marriage, they went to city hall following the birth of their child to ensure the family enjoyed the associated legal protections and privileges. There was no celebration, no announcements, and she told me directly that they did not want any gifts, although she...Read more
Planning for Post-Passing Peace
Dear Annie: When the time comes -- hopefully I pass before my loving husband and faithful partner of nearly 25 years, but if not -- I could use a few words of advice as to how to deal with my estranged step-daughter, her bitter mother (both vultures) and her young children who I've never met due to an unresolved falling out many years ago.
I ...Read more
Ask Amy: Single woman doesn’t want to be hit on
Dear Amy: I am a single woman in my mid-50s. I never married or had children and like it this way.
I enjoy people, but am a classic introvert who recuperates her energy by being alone.
I enjoy going to museums and restaurants on my own. There is a restaurant/bar right down the street from me that I enjoy going to.
Recently, I went to this ...Read more
Woman Pays High Emotional Cost Trying To Help Mother
DEAR ABBY: My mom always catered to my dad when I was growing up. I was left to pretty much raise myself. Their drinking and social life were their priorities. I ended up pregnant at 16 and married to an abusive 21-year-old man, and I was divorced at 17.
After that, I was on my own. Mom never helped other than writing an occasional check so my ...Read more
Student Home From Studying Abroad Misses Whirlwind Romance
DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently returned to the United States after studying abroad, and I have a whirlwind of emotions following my departure from the city that became my temporary home. I am sad to leave the friends I made from all over the world, and I'm also leaving behind a guy I connected with.
During my time abroad, I met an incredible guy ...Read more
Longtime Friends Lose Minds Over Canceled Dinner Plans
DEAR MISS MANNERS: We were scheduled to have dinner with two friends at the tail end of a fun week -- several days of entertainments, parties, drinking and late nights. When the day of our dinner date came up, my wife and I were so miserable that we had to cancel our dinner plans. Eating another bite of food was the last thing we wanted to -- or...Read more
Sisterly Snag: A Party Predicament
Dear Annie: My sister "Emily" and I were planning a joint celebration for our parents' 40th wedding anniversary, but we've hit a snag. Emily wants to host a large party with all of our extended family and friends, but I think that a more intimate gathering would be more special and less stressful for our parents. They are both pretty reserved,...Read more
Ask Amy: Elder couple is isolated post-pandemic
Dear Amy: My husband and I, along with a lot of other people our age, have not been able to recover from the pandemic. We are both active 75-year-olds and have been married 55 years.
It seems like everyone’s forgotten that most people over 65 are retired and have no young children. They don’t have jobs and colleagues to return to. They don�...Read more
Widowed Spouse Makes Plea To All Living Partners
DEAR ABBY: Today I ironed and folded my late husband's lucky fishing shirt and placed it into a box going to Goodwill. Continuing with the task, I matched up 14 pairs of my good merino wool socks, most of which had been gifts from him in times that were not so flush. After three months, I have finally moved the box containing his ashes from the ...Read more
Lonely Wife Wants To Reconnect With Husband
DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel like I'm drowning in my empty home. My kids have all grown up and moved out, leaving a quiet house behind. My husband seems to be married to his work and spends more time at the office than at home. With everyone gone, all I have left is our puppy. I adore our furry friend, but obviously, he doesn't speak the same language...Read more
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