ArcaMax

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

DEAR ABBY: I moved 2,000 miles to be near my daughter and her family. One of my granddaughters, "Libby," was diagnosed with a medical condition and has put on some weight. I was at my daughter's and was going to mention my concern for my granddaughter's weight. Before I could finish, my son-in-law came in, told me I shouldn't be talking about ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter's teacher asked me out on a date today and I said yes. However, I am worried about how this will affect her. I am a single mom to my 10-year-old daughter, and she is my world. I haven't been out on a date in four years and I'm nervous, especially because he is my daughter's teacher. My daughter really likes her ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I understand that one usually does not decline gifts. One accepts the piece of bric-a-brac gracefully, and after some tactful time, regifts or donates it.

But my in-laws give us furniture. Not single pieces of treasured family heirlooms, or even a single chair -- entire suites of furniture! A bedroom set, a dining room set, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I walked away from a 50-plus-year friendship. I've known "Ralph," his wife and his kids since the late-1970s. We both worked construction. We never had a deep friendship; most men from the boomer generation don't. Ralph has a sense of humor that others would say is off-putting, including uncomfortable joking, but we went through ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: All members of my family are white. When my children were smaller, an incident occurred at a family holiday. One relative has a history of making racist comments, so this time we told everyone that if it happened again, we would leave. He did, and we left. My husband raised his voice at that person and made polite excuses to everyone ...Read more