ArcaMax

If you've been musing on the power of bitterness and the awfulness it can play in a life, that's a step in the right direction. It tells me your complacency has been a bit rattled by my words and you may just be considering (for the first time?) your role in shaping the unpleasant endings in your life. Knowing this is just between you and me, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is only two weeks into the school year, and he already got suspended for a week for making a politically inappropriate joke in class. His dad made the joke the night before, and our whole family laughed, so my son thought it would go over well in class. We told him there is a time and a place for these types of jokes and ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I are professionals who contribute generously to many charities. Of late, however, we are noticing an unsavory practice of certain "society hosts" who head various charities: They invite us to their galas and parties, charging for the honor of being invited in order to raise money for the charity.

We have ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have lived in the same house for nearly 15 years and have always had a friendly relationship with my neighbors. About a year ago, a new family moved in next door with two large dogs. They seem like perfectly nice dogs, but my neighbors let them outside constantly -- early in the morning, throughout the day and sometimes well into ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My two youngest children have special needs. Both have the mentality of a 7- or 8-year-old. Today, my daughter (13) told the school counselor that her brother (15) has been touching her inappropriately. I feel like I'm reliving a nightmare. Six years ago, my oldest son touched her. He was charged and tried as an adult.

My daughter is...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I got into a car crash eight months ago, and it has left my face permanently scarred. I am still not used to the way my face looks, and I'm extremely insecure. I can tell my husband isn't as attracted to me as he used to be, and my toddler looks at me like I am Frankenstein's monster.

I want to find ways to be more confident, ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why is it considered rude to ask an adult his or her age?

It's a fact of life, just one aspect of a whole person, and it's not like keeping it a secret is going to prevent the onset of old age.

GENTLE READER: The sad answer is that our society considers growing older to be a misfortune, if not a personal failing.

People, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married to a dear man for more than 40 years, but for much of that time, I have felt as though we are not really a team.

My husband can be very kind in practical ways. He will happily run errands, fix things around the house and do small tasks for me. But when I truly need his support, especially during stressful or ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: As an 80-year-old man, I'm up against a problem I cannot deal with. I've been married to an amazing lady for 57 years whom I love to death. She has put up with a lot from me, and I am so grateful. Now it's my turn, and I'm falling woefully short. Her mother died of complications from dementia, as did her older brother. My mother had ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in an interracial relationship for the first time, and I'm struggling to figure out whether I'm genuinely uncomfortable or simply overthinking things because this is new territory for me. My partner seems to bring up race more often than I anticipated, even when it doesn't seem particularly relevant to the conversation or ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I took a new colleague to lunch. We were having a nice conversation about baseball when he said, "I've always felt inferior for being short."

Huh? I said, "Maybe you'll grow up."

Stupid and mean, but what was I supposed to say? "Everyone loves you anyway"? How was I supposed to react? He IS short. Should I have told him he's...Read more

Dear Readers: After my column in response to "Worried Daughter," who was concerned that her widowed mother was becoming increasingly isolated and dependent two years after her husband's death, readers wrote with thoughtful suggestions. Thank you to all, but especially to two readers for sharing your personal and professional experiences with ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I've been in a relationship with a man for three years and living with him for the past two. He has two married daughters and seven grandkids. Before I entered his life, he had an open-door policy. He allowed them to visit whenever they wanted, and they still have keys to his house.

My partner and I are not on the same page regarding...Read more

They were behind at the orthodontist's office and the waiting room was full. My daughter went to sit down as I checked in, and I sucked it in to slide into the one seat open next to her. The two boys, both under 10, in our row were each on their phones. Their mom, sitting in front of them was on her phone. In fact, everyone in the waiting room...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 18 years, and I love him dearly. But lately, there are nights when I fantasize less about romance and more about having my own quiet bedroom.

My husband snores so loudly that I can hear him from the hallway with the bedroom door closed. It starts almost the minute his head hits the pillow. I ...Read more