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Empty-Nester Looking For New Ways To Fill Time

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in my late 50s, and all my children are in college or have recently graduated. My life used to be a balancing act of taking care of my children and working. Now that my three children are all gone, I have a lot of free time. I'm at a loss because my entire identity seems to be consumed by the role of a mother, and I have no ...Read more

Cosmetics Compliments Not Meant To Insult

Life Advice / Miss Manners /

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have noticed a trend about how women compliment each other that I find really insulting.

I have had people say to me, "You're pretty" or "You have nice skin." I thank them and forget about it. However, a few times, I have had women say to me, "Your makeup is so pretty," or "Wow, you really know how to apply makeup well."

I...Read more

Husband Lacks Experience Parenting Autistic Daughter

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My daughter is 8 years old and was recently diagnosed with autism. She was just diagnosed at age 7, but I have suspected she is autistic since about age 3 when she used to be severely speech-delayed. Over the years, I had suggested she was autistic to my husband several times, and his responses were things like, "She's just a ...Read more

Ask Amy: Parents differ about sex happening in the house

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: My wife and I have a difference of opinion regarding our 20-year-old daughter. We would love your perspective.

Our daughter is a sophomore at a university in Europe, and has recently started dating another sophomore (male) student.

When she comes home for the summer, he plans to visit.

In conversations with my wife, I have indicated...Read more

Freeloading Boyfriend Makes Woman Feel Like A Bad Person

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: I've been with the same guy for almost five years. I was madly in love with him the first three years, but after I had my daughter, things slowly changed. We haven't been intimate in a while. I had some female issues I wanted to take care of, plus I'm not physically attracted to him anymore. He makes little comments about it to make ...Read more

Study-Abroad Student Feels Guilty For Not Missing Home

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 20-year-old student who recently relocated temporarily to Europe. I have been living here for two months, and I love it. I have recently been feeling guilty because I have done a poor job of keeping in touch with my family. I was raised to be extremely independent, so I don't often rely on my parents or older sisters for ...Read more

I Keep Stumbling Into Proposals!

Life Advice / Miss Manners /

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Twice, now, I have become an accidental intruder on a couple's proposal during my regular walking excursions (after work and on weekends).

The first occurred on the campus of the university where I am employed, near a pad-mounted transformer and busy roundabout. I was willing to chalk my unfortunate presence up to his poor ...Read more

Inheritance Issues and Husband's Inappropriate Ogling

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My parents have had property for many, many years. This property was to be divided among us kids upon their death.

My father passed away, which puts my mother in charge of everything.

Recently, we found out that she gave ALL this property to one of our siblings.

We were always a close-knit family, but this has caused a huge rift...Read more

Ask Amy: Estrangement extends through generations

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: My boyfriend of 10 years (with a few breaks) does not have a close relationship with his parents and really no relationship at all with his two siblings.

Little things have happened through the years that have upset people, and no one ever communicates or makes up with each other.

He also doesn't have good relationships with his ...Read more

Birthday Party No-Shows Come At A Cost For Host

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: I recently hosted my husband's birthday. It was a great party. I reserved for 85 people, including the DJ, his assistant, the party planner and her crew. On the day of the event, 20% of the guests who RSVP'd did not show up. One couple said their two daughters had a debut party that night. Another family said their son had an outing. ...Read more

Millennial Life: There's No Place Like Home

I didn't know how much I must have been hated as an apartment dweller. I lived in the same complex, moving into different units for different reasons, for 10 years. However, when you talk about apartments with some people, it's as if the worst of the worst crawl out of them and slink into our streets.

While living in the apartment, I worked at ...Read more

St. Patrick's Day Inspiration

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Readers: Happy St. Patrick's Day. Here are some famous and uplifting Irish blessings to add a little sunshine to your day.

An Old Irish Blessing for St. Patrick's Day

"May your days be many and your troubles be few. / May all God's blessings descend upon you. / May peace be within you, may your heart be strong. / May you find what you'...Read more

Ask Amy: Marriage to a problem drinker has disintegrated

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I married my high school sweetheart. We’ve been together for 50 years.

We had a great sexual relationship until five years ago.

My husband has a serious drinking problem which I have tolerated for decades. He has called me nasty and vulgar names, and now does nothing but watch TV and drink. When my father died last year, he didn’...Read more

Relative Offended By Couple's Change To Wedding Plans

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: A relative is getting married, and the RSVP date has passed. It was announced many months ago and was to be a big, formal church wedding, with eight or nine groomsmen and bridesmaids, a flower girl and ring bearer, followed by a reception.

On the last day of the RSVP deadline, the couple sent out a postcard stating: "Change of plans!...Read more

Addicted Reader Wants To Stop Gaming

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: My gaming addiction has led me to spend excessive amounts of time on my game, causing me to neglect my husband and become easily angered with my child. I recognize that my behavior is hurting those I love, and I am desperate to find a way to overcome this addiction and repair the damage it has caused. I feel consumed by the need ...Read more

Am I Expressing Empathy, Or Making It About Me?

Life Advice / Miss Manners /

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When friends or co-workers tell me about personal problems or physical issues they are experiencing, and I have had similar issues, I'm at a loss as to whether I should share my experience.

I have often been through the same thing they are describing, or I know someone who has, and I have relayed those experiences in the past...Read more

Haunted by Granddaughter's Addiction and Death

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: Our granddaughter had been on drugs for several years. She had been in and out of jail and rehabs. She had two children, ages 1 and 2. She basically abandoned them, so we all decided tough love and prayer were the answer.

She was found by the side of the road where someone dumped her, dead or dying from a drug overdose. Now we all...Read more

Ask Amy: High-schooler wants to avoid ex’s drama

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I’m a high school student, and I have an issue with my ex-boyfriend.

We dated for two years but then I broke up with him back in November. We got together again and tried to make it work, but I ended it again with him in early January.

Our relationship wasn't good. He was a very controlling person, wanting to decide what clothing I...Read more

Daughter Isn't Truthful About Her Relationship

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: My daughter was 4 when we adopted her. She's 23 now, going to college and moving into an apartment soon. She has been the center of our lives, since our older children are grown. We have supported her through abandonment issues, lost boyfriends, school, everything. We went through cancer treatment with her. She acts like things are ...Read more

Readers Respond To "Anxieties On Getting Old"

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR READERS: I got so many great responses to the letter from "Anxieties on Getting Old" that I am printing two of them for you to enjoy. I love when you write to me with your questions and responses. Keep them coming!

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have some additional ideas for you in answering "Anxieties on Getting Old."

This person was worried about ...Read more