ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My nana is a gossip. It doesn't matter what type of boundaries you try to establish -- she will inevitably cross them and say something she shouldn't. My mom has a complicated relationship with her, not talking to her as often as my nana deems appropriate. Due to this, my nana assumes and makes up reasons and scenarios. I try not...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In my senior year of high school, I got pregnant, and back in those times, I was not allowed to graduate. I married my child's father and raised two children with him. We were divorced many years later, mostly because we had not finished growing up when we married.

I did go on to attend classes at a local community college, ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for over 20 years. When we met, we had both already lost our parents. During all our time together, my husband's younger brother has spent Christmas at our home -- even after we got married and he got married, after we moved out of state and had children (now 17 and 20), and after he and his wife ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My boss doesn't set boundaries between work and our personal lives. I adore her, but the job is very stressful and comes first. She recently became engaged, and I don't know how to accept her husband-to-be. When we're all together, he's constantly on his cellphone or makes mean-spirited jabs at my husband over sports. We can't all ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend is currently not talking to me after we got into a huge argument over who should drive. He's usually the driver, but I wanted to take the wheel for the day, which set him off. He feels like I do not let him play his role as a man in our relationship and that I'm often overstepping boundaries. I do not think it's that...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A friend told me he had been contacted by his former college roommate. Clyde and Stan are in their 60s and live in different states. They have remained good friends since college, and see each other sporadically at informal reunions of their large group of common college friends.

Stan's daughter is getting married and he is ...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister and I have not spoken in three years following a falling-out over our mother's estate. I won't rehash the details -- suffice it to say, neither of us came out looking entirely clean. We were never close growing up, but we were friendly enough as adults, and I miss that.

Last month, she sent me a card for my birthday. No ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have scheduled a long road trip with another couple. All four of us are retired with a zest to explore. We share common interests, enjoy each other's company and intend to share the driving. The catch is, we recently experienced the erratic driving of the other gentleman, and my wife is understandably unwilling to be in ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I need a change. I've lived in the same city my entire life and have the same friends I've always had. I even attended college in my hometown, thinking it would give me an advantage because I didn't need to readjust to a new setting. Although it allowed me to focus on my academics, I feel like I am limiting my growth by not ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I hosted a brunch gathering of about 10 people at our home. We offered a wide spread of food and drinks, and we used paper plates and napkins to make cleaning up a little easier -- and also because I'm in my third trimester and frankly, the idea of cleaning that many dishes had me feeling exhausted.

It was a ...Read more

Dear Annie: My dearest friend and I go back over 50 years. We've seen each other through everything, high and lows.

Recently I became disabled and can no longer drive. I'm also a widow. I'm not asking anyone to chauffeur me around (I have that handled), but a phone call here and there would be lovely. She lives just a short distance away, yet...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I recently saw on my daughter's phone that she's sending nude pictures to a "Jameson," whom she met online. She is 29 and has a learning disability. She still lives at home with me and her father. She's not able to live on her own because of her disability.

I once found out from a bank statement that she was giving thousands of ...Read more

I love mystery. No, not the grisly murder-mayhem crime scene. The mystery that moves me (and maybe you, too, after I make my case) is the aura, the enchantment, the spell we women can weave around our femininity. But before we get to that, I want you to know that my concept of feminine mystery has absolutely nothing to do with game playing or ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 60-year-old single mom, and all four of my children have moved out of my house. It now feels empty, and I'm not sure what to do with myself. My children are my world, and all of my free time went to them when they lived here. Now that my youngest son has officially graduated college and is moving out and getting his own ...Read more