ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have multiple passions and actual skills, but I feel like I'm constantly being shamed for having a career path that doesn't fit neatly into one box. My parents seem disappointed because they expected me to choose one clearly defined profession and stick with it. Employers seem similarly confused by my resume, which spans ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When we asked Grandma about when she met Gramps, we got a lot more than we expected. She started talking about her various boyfriends, how popular she was, and how she kept them dangling, not even knowing for sure how many she was seeing at the same time.

Our Grandma was a slut! How are we supposed to take that? And Gramps ...Read more

Dear Annie: My daughter is single and raising two sons. Her husband died in an automobile accident four years ago.

I am worried about the relationship between her sons, "Steven," 16, and "Frederick," 10. I think they are too close and too affectionate with each other. Steven is very protective of Frederick, and Frederick worships his big ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My parents divorced when I was 5 years old, and my father moved out of state shortly afterward. For many years, I rarely saw him in person. However, he stayed in touch through phone calls and letters, and he always called on my birthday and holidays. Eventually, he settled in Alaska, far from where I lived. Even with the distance, he ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Last week, I learned that the man I have been dating for two years is homophobic. I was shocked to hear that he's completely against the LGBTQ+ community. We are both in our 50s, but I didn't think he was into that kind of hatred, especially since he has always treated me and others around us with kindness and respect.

Recently,...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My friend and I were invited to a costume party, so that means I had to make or rent a costume. The woman who was hosting told everyone to bring a beverage and a gag gift.

This might have been OK, but she also said every guest had to pay $5 to attend. We are not teens or college kids, we are all adults.

I feel that if you ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son and his wife have been married for 11 years, and my daughter-in-law, age 31, has struggled with alcoholism, depression and anxiety for the past six years. She's also attempted suicide a few times in the past three years. She is under the care of a psychiatrist. But who knows whether she is telling him the truth? She also is a ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a single male who's happy with his life, with plenty of friends and family. My issue is what I endure during the holidays. Every year, I'm invited over to Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I look forward to seeing family that I only see once or twice a year.

These get-togethers usually consist of 15 to 25 people. Yet, other than ...Read more

Dear Annie: I met my boyfriend, "Tyler," almost six years ago. For the past two years, I've been wondering whether he truly loves me. There is very little physical contact between us. We're intimate maybe once a year. If I try to touch him at night, he pulls away, even if my foot just brushes against his. He only kisses me and says he loves me ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My twin sister and her husband are expecting their first child. I run a small business with my father. Although I work hard, neither of them seems to see or acknowledge my efforts. They consider me to be "sponging" off my father. They also disapprove of my relationship with my boyfriend because we have chosen to remain unmarried and ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My teenage daughter recently fell down the stairs and became paralyzed from the waist down. The adjustment has been difficult on her and the rest of our family. She used to be a very active girl who loved to play sports, and now she can't, which has caused her to become depressed. She has to watch from the sidelines, and I can ...Read more

Dear Annie: A lot of things improved when I got sober five years ago. I left a toxic job and started my own business, where I've made some good friends. I improved my relationship with my kids, now 7 and 9, so much that I became the preferred parent. I'm even healthier thanks to a new dog who loves walking and comes almost everywhere with me. ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have three grown children and seven grandchildren. I have solid relationships with my oldest and youngest, their spouses and their children. My middle daughter, "Hope," has always been distant. I've tried for years to build a relationship with her and her children.

Hope has suffered from mental and physical illness most of her life...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: While I was in a Zoom meeting for work, I didn't realize I wasn't muted, and I shouted out how boring the meeting was and how I didn't give a crap about what we were talking about. The entire meeting went silent after I said it, and I immediately realized everyone had heard me. To make matters worse, my boss was at this meeting. ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been married only a few short years. My husband and I used to go out and have fun; we'd do things like day trips to the beach or going out to eat, just to get out of the house.

Over the past few years, he has decided that his favorite pastime is sitting on the sofa. If I mention going somewhere, he comes up with an excuse: it...Read more