ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My neighbor is an elderly woman who lives alone because her husband passed away a few years ago and her children live in a different state. We've never been close -- perhaps because my block isn't the friendliest. Nonetheless, I want to reach out to her and let her know that we are here if she wants to come over for dinner or ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was asked to drive for a friend's daughter's birthday party, as my car can carry a few more passengers than my friend's. My daughter was invited, so I didn't mind too much. The event was a little over an hour away.

When the day came, no gas money was offered. My friend even suggested taking the girls to lunch at a pricier ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother passed away earlier this year. I'm sad to say that I did not like her. She was never nice to me. I was having a hard time in my life and for a while didn't talk to anyone. My mother would say mean things to me like, "Your father wants to take you out of the will," along with her favorite line: "I hate you!" She said that ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I love my wife very much, but we are, unfortunately, having a communication/interpretation issue. She is inquisitive and asks a lot of questions. I become defensive when I'm questioned. Sometimes I feel it shows a lack of confidence or trust in me. My wife says I am being too sensitive.

There are times when I infer a negative tone ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have started dating a divorced Jewish man with a teenage daughter. I, too, am Jewish. "Simon" has been divorced for many years, and has continued to celebrate the important high holidays in the company of his daughter and his ex-wife (who has not remarried).

Simon and I have a lot in common, and everything is going so well between...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: When the pandemic hit and we were all sent home, my job went remote. After about six months, I moved in with my parents because I couldn't afford my apartment in the city. Now, nearly two years later, my company is saying we all have to come back to the office in the fall. There's no firm date yet, but it will be soon. I don't ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have always been on the fence about having children. I ultimately decided it would depend on who I meet and get serious with.

As fate would have it, I met someone who doesn't want to have kids for medical reasons. We have discussed it, and she is open to adoption if I ever want to have kids.

The issue here is my family. I ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 39-year-old man who is married to the greatest wife in the world. We have three boys and one girl; our oldest is 19, and our youngest is 8. A couple of years ago, I started a cabinet-making business, and it is growing faster than I could have imagined. Our oldest son works full time with me. Even with his help, I am falling ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been in my second marriage for almost 20 years. My wife came with two grown children, who each have two kids. I have tried to be the best family man I could, and a father and grandfather who treated them like they were my own.

My wife's daughter Diana recently disrupted everything after I gave her daughter (my granddaughter) ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and his brother, "Sam," are both in their 50s. My mother-in-law thinks Sam is "the golden child." He and his wife receive the best gifts, and we get whatever trash she can put her hands on. She gives my sister-in-law all the best jewelry, and I get cheap junk. She recently told me that for my birthday, she was sending a ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friends genuinely feel that because they do not like my boyfriend, I should consider leaving him. My boyfriend is great to me, but my friends question where he is going in his career. I sometimes question his career path as well, but we've been dating for only a few months, and I've seen major strides from him. How do I tell ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A former teacher of mine, a beloved figure in the community, is being given a surprise retirement party by his students, colleagues and friends. The hush-hush invitations read sternly, PLEASE, NO GIFTS! A money tree will be provided!

The rationale is that given his modest salary, he will need the money to help him retire, ...Read more

Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I have been dating for two years. He's a hard worker, which appealed to me, as I've always been the breadwinner in previous relationships. But lately, I feel like he's not putting any effort into the relationship.

For one, we always hang out at my house. I've only been to his house three times in the two years we'...Read more

DEAR ABBY: After 28 years of marriage, is it strange that I would like my wife to initiate sex? I would like to know that she is interested, not just me. When I brought it up three weeks ago, her response again was, We can whenever you want to, which wasn't true because I have been turned down before. Any suggestions? She stays home all day and ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am having an argument with my husband and need an impartial opinion.

My daughter, 19, has been dating "Thad," 21, for four years. Thad recently admitted that he cheated on her, and now she is breaking up with him. She discussed it with me and then sent him a text message that it was over. He texted her multiple times, but she didn...Read more

DEAR SUSAN: One of your columns caused me to read your bio, and I learned that your son Scott lost his father when he was very young. My mother's greatest accomplishment, she says, is bringing up her three children to have college degrees without needing a husband. (My manuscript about that experience, "The Widow's Son," won an award at a ...Read more