ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My husband, children and I are caring for my widowed father, who is in the late stages of dementia. I consider it a privilege and a responsibility to care for him at home, and am happy to do so for as long as I am able. I attend support groups, and my family and friends ensure that I "escape" from time to time.

The difficulty is ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a single older woman who has been friends with another single older woman for a few years. Neither of us has family, so I have sort of come to think of her as family. A couple of years ago, this friend started riding motor scooters. She loves it and waxes enthusiastic all the time about it. I had thought about getting a ...Read more

Dear Amy: My younger sister and I are young adults. We are extremely close, and have many mutual friends. She is educated, attractive, successful, single and often regarded as the type to take no nonsense from guys. I am sometimes regarded as the slightly overprotective older brother.

This past weekend we took a trip together, went out to bars ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My sister, Dawn, recently got engaged to a man I detest. They have been dating for two years. I don't trust him, and I believe he is controlling her. He has lied to me and to my parents, and has strained Dawn's relationship with our family by constantly making her choose between either him or us.

Dawn worked hard to earn her master's...Read more

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Hi, Carolyn:

When our neighbor moved in just over a year ago, she introduced herself and mentioned that her husband, who was in his late 30s, had passed away a year earlier. We've socialized with her quite a bit since then. She's amazing: seemingly not dwelling in the past or in the depths of despair...Read more

Dear Amy: I have recently started dating again after 10 years.

I met this guy five years ago on an online video game. He has suddenly gotten in touch with me after five years, and has confessed that he's been in love with me the whole time.

I was shocked. I have never been the one to clue in when someone likes me. We have started Skyping and ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for over 20 years. We've had our share of highs and lows during our time together. However, recently I discovered some things that are really bothering me.

My husband always said he didn't "do the whole Facebook thing." I discovered he's been lying about not having a Facebook account when I was ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a recent divorcee who has started dating again. I have been seeing this guy -- also divorced -- for a few months, and he recently told me he loves me. There's definitely a mutual attraction, but I'm not ready for love again, which we've discussed in great detail.

When I ask him why he loves me, he can't answer specifically. His ...Read more

Dear Annie: My fiance, "Bob," and I have been together nearly two years, and we are going through a rough patch. My father and Bob have not been getting along for the past few months. Now, Bob refuses to go to any event that includes my family. Honestly, my father is ready to put it all behind him and work on a healthier relationship, but Bob ...Read more

Dear Amy: I have a younger sister, "Tammy," who was very cruel to me when we were growing up. Because of her abuse, I left home at 17, and since that time, have grown out of the self-hate that she drilled into me. I've built a very strong network of friends, who I now think of as my family.

I have started getting closer to my father, and I ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have never written you before. Hoping you will give some space to this subject. I pray dog owners choosing to use a bark collar will see themselves as their neighbors do.

Dog ownership in our neighborhood has risen tenfold in the past five years. We have chosen not to have a dog -- but love them and frequently dog-sit for our ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been happily married for 20 years to an amazing man, Boyd. Eight months ago, he left his administrative job to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an actor. He is working hard on auditions and shoots, and I am very proud of him. However, when he left his job, it felt to me like a pronouncement rather than the result of our ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 35 years. We have two adult children who have been a wonderful part of our lives.

My daughter, 33, moved out after high school. She did not complete her college degree and moved back home. She is working a three-hour-a-day job that takes care of her bills and personal expenses.

Our 30-year-...Read more

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Dear Carolyn:

I am not the type of friend you ask out to dinner. I am the type of friend whose call you sometimes answer and whose invitation you accept, when I make it.

As I approach 50, I can see this very clearly. I have a handful of "friends" but for whatever reason -- my independence or my ...Read more

Dear Amy: I am the parent of a 2 year old, and I have regular playdates with several other moms and their toddlers.

One of these friends has a toddler, "Jimmy," who seems to exhibit many of the early signs of being on the autism spectrum.

The other moms and I have wondered for many months if Jimmy's parents will have him tested, but so far ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband is a salesman and is constantly working, regardless of time of day or whether we're on vacation. He wears a Bluetooth earpiece, so I can never tell whether he is on the phone. And regardless of whether he's on a phone call, he is always engaged in his email. If I ask him a question, he will usually answer but rarely look...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am 23, married for four years and have three children. My wife and I have always had strong sex drives. I recently accepted a dream job that pays very well. On the downside, I work 12 to 14 hours a day, and by the time I get home I'm exhausted.

I love my wife very much and want to meet her needs, but she wants sex every night. I'm ...Read more

Dear Annie: When I started my job 10 years ago, my boss was married to the office manager. Everything was great, and we were like a big family. However, four years ago, my boss's wife was caught embezzling. She is currently serving time in a federal prison, and they have since divorced.

Here's my problem. My boss recently remarried, and his ...Read more