ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My husband calls me the "Throwaway Queen." I have gotten into hot water for not asking before I trashed something. Now I think I've made a huge mistake.

My husband is now far into dementia. We are thinking of moving, so I started cleaning out storage bins. I threw away two items of my husband's that had been in those bins for years....Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for four years. In that time, we have split up twice, and it wasn't pretty either time. We have kids together. I pushed getting married when I became pregnant at 19. Then he claimed to fall out of love with me, stopped coming home after work and began treating me like his maid. So I left and took our child. He ...Read more

Dear Annie: As a father of three, I always find Father's Day a little misleading. Kids don't have to purchase an overpriced card or tie to show their appreciation. I'd rather they simply keep doing what they are already doing: working hard in school. They don't have to be scholars or make the honor roll every time. Just doing their best is good ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been with "Robert" for three years, and we have been through a lot. We've always had financial issues, but six months ago, we had to give up our baby girl for adoption because we couldn't care for her properly.

Emotionally, this has destroyed both of us, but thankfully, I began going to counseling early on, and it has helped....Read more

Dear Annie: Is there such a thing as an addiction to charitable giving? I cannot seem to say no to anyone with a need or a hard-luck story.

I give generously to my church, wildlife organizations, cancer funds, firefighter causes and on and on. I give to a number of animal charities. Most folks will drop a dollar or two in the Salvation Army ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am in my mid-20s and have been with my husband for seven years. Last year, while I was attending school and working, my husband started an affair. I also discovered information about his cheating dating back three years. I have found texts, social media messages and even a secret phone.

My husband doesn't know that I am aware of ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've known "Ted" all my life. About 10 years ago, I loaned him $1,000. He never repaid it, and I could really use that money now. Ted lives in a different city, and when I phone him, he refuses to discuss it.

In the past, I had given Ted money outright, but this was absolutely a loan. I made sure he knew that, but I didn't ask for a...Read more

Dear Annie: After my parents died, my sister, "Estelle," moved into our old family home. Three siblings own the house, but Estelle and her husband have lived there for the past six years, rent-free.

There were always a lot of cats in our neighborhood, and my mother used to put out food for them. Estelle now does the same, and it seems every cat...Read more

Dear Annie: I have two adult daughters, both married now. "Beth" lives nearby, but "Gina" moved across the country.

Beth was diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder when she was in her early 20s. I think she suffered from it during childhood but was undiagnosed. When they were children, I spent a great deal of time trying to calm Beth down and...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 13, and my parents are divorced. I moved in with my father eight months ago, but soon realized that Dad is an alcoholic. We lived in a nice apartment for a while, and he seemed to be doing well, but I had no idea how addicted he was until the landlord evicted us. I moved in with my aunt and will have to move back in with my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I was widowed five years ago when my husband of 23 years died after a long illness. My four kids (the oldest from a previous marriage) still grieve to this day. "George" always considered my eldest daughter to be his child. Two years after George died, I married a wonderful man who respects the memory of my late husband. George's ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are both in our 60s and have had a mutually loving and enjoyable sex life. We were intimate once or twice a week. Until now.

"Bill" recently was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and we have elected to do nothing aggressive. The doctor suggested "dutiful watching." Bill has some erectile dysfunction, and so he has all...Read more

Dear Annie: My adult stepdaughter doesn't want to work. Her main goal in life is to drink, smoke pot and pass out naked on the beach. She inherited two family homes and essentially threw them away by not paying the mortgages and having parties with the money she collected as rent.

This woman falls off the face of the Earth until she needs ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've always known that my niece, "Norma," takes advantage of people, but now I think she's gone too far.

Norma is a single mom who lives in my mother's rental. I recently discovered that she has not paid rent for nearly a year. Norma also convinced my mother to shell out $8,000 to have the yard professionally landscaped. My mother ...Read more

Dear Annie: I work at a regional medical center, and friends and family often ask me to recommend a doctor or a physician's group for them. For a while, I didn't mind giving these people a few names, but I have grown reluctant to do so.

My reluctance is not because I don't trust in the knowledge and care provided by the doctors I work with. It'...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife of nearly 55 years has had a negative attitude for a long time, but it has gotten worse in the past few years. She has become very critical. For instance, she doesn't care for a local hospital, and in social settings, she proceeds to warn everyone about a long list of grievances she has heard from a secondhand source. She ...Read more

Dear Annie: Thirteen years ago, my son met "Nadia." She became pregnant and brought my first beautiful grandchild into the world. After they married, I did many things for her and enjoyed her company. They now have another child, a son who is 8.

Nadia was fired from her job after breaking some rules -- I don't know which ones -- and hasn't ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been with my husband for six years. "Todd" has a son from a prior relationship, and I have two daughters from my first marriage. We also have a daughter together.

Todd's ex constantly calls and texts him, and it's never about their son, who lives with his grandparents. I say Todd should cut down on communication with her ...Read more

Dear Annie: After 20 years of living together, my partner informed me that she was in love with someone else and had been slipping off to his house when she told me she was visiting a girlfriend. "Lois" says there was no sex involved -- just hugging and kissing, etc.

I confronted this man, and he denied he had any feelings for Lois except as a ...Read more

Dear Annie: When my husband died, my daughter, "Emma," insisted that I move in with her to take over the child care, cooking, cleaning, etc. One of my requirements was bringing my dog. Emma knows "Maisie" is a barker, but promised it wouldn't be a problem.

Emma began seeing a fine young man, who moved in with us. But Maisie barked at him. When ...Read more