ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My neighbor ran over my cat and is lying about it, even though we captured it on our Ring Doorbell camera. Our cat is an indoor and outdoor cat, and during the day he likes to wander around the neighborhood. He is well-known by all our neighbors, and everyone loves to give him treats and pet him. One day, the teenage son of our ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have just returned from a weekend at a so-called friend's home, and talk about feeling unwelcome. She was on my heels "cleaning up" after me all weekend, and I didn't make a mess!

I was given a towel and washcloth. After using them, I neatly hung them on her towel bar, only to be later told that they had been moved to the ...Read more

Dear Annie: My siblings and I usually go in on gifts for my parents for birthdays and holidays. Since there are five of us, we can pool enough for something really nice, such as new golf clubs or a weekend away, rather than five smaller separate gifts.

My dad's birthday is coming up, and my sister sent around her usual text to coordinate. The...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a man in my late 60s who hasn't had a family birthday party since I was a child. My mother's birthday is seven days from mine, so celebrations were always for her, and mine were sort of lost in the shuffle. This was never a problem for me when I was younger, but as I get older, I think it would be nice to have a party.

When I ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I said "I love you" during sex, and I meant it. I've been dating my guy for less than a year, but I appreciate everything about him and our bond. We have grown so close in so little time, but I don't think he's quite there yet. When I said it, I really wanted him to know -- but my timing probably wasn't the best. I was just ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When my friend of over 50 years and I lived only an hour and a half from each other, I spent a great deal of time at her house. This included spending time with her husband, and we all got along very well.

But on their 45th wedding anniversary, which was my last time to visit as I was moving away, her husband propositioned me...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently returned from a lovely two-week vacation to Europe with my husband. It's rare that we get a trip like this, so we were looking forward to it, and it did not disappoint!

I set clear expectations with my team at work beforehand that I'd be fully off work. Everyone respected that -- except my boss, who texted me not once ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My fiance gets annoyed and calls it weird that I talk to my daughter every morning on my way to work and in the afternoon on my way home. She's a wife and young mother of two, ages 1 and 4. I'm proud of how well she is doing.

I work full time, and she works part time. We're both always busy, so we don't see each other as often as we'...Read more

If you've been musing on the power of bitterness and the awfulness it can play in a life, that's a step in the right direction. It tells me your complacency has been a bit rattled by my words and you may just be considering (for the first time?) your role in shaping the unpleasant endings in your life. Knowing this is just between you and me, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is only two weeks into the school year, and he already got suspended for a week for making a politically inappropriate joke in class. His dad made the joke the night before, and our whole family laughed, so my son thought it would go over well in class. We told him there is a time and a place for these types of jokes and ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I are professionals who contribute generously to many charities. Of late, however, we are noticing an unsavory practice of certain "society hosts" who head various charities: They invite us to their galas and parties, charging for the honor of being invited in order to raise money for the charity.

We have ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have lived in the same house for nearly 15 years and have always had a friendly relationship with my neighbors. About a year ago, a new family moved in next door with two large dogs. They seem like perfectly nice dogs, but my neighbors let them outside constantly -- early in the morning, throughout the day and sometimes well into ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My two youngest children have special needs. Both have the mentality of a 7- or 8-year-old. Today, my daughter (13) told the school counselor that her brother (15) has been touching her inappropriately. I feel like I'm reliving a nightmare. Six years ago, my oldest son touched her. He was charged and tried as an adult.

My daughter is...Read more

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