ArcaMax

Dear Annie: Last month, I took my grandkids to a water park. While I was watching the crowds, I noticed a man with a boy who looked to be around 12 years old crouched behind a picnic table. They looked as if they were waiting for someone to come by so they could jump up and startle the person. What I found odd was that the man kept pulling the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a college student and only get to see my long-distance boyfriend once every four or five weeks. We've been dating for more than 18 months. Assuming we stay together through grad school, we will have dated longer than six years before we have the chance to live together.

Since I haven't spent all that much time with him, my ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are the parents of a 15-year-old boy. "Will" is a good student. He has been in a friendly relationship with a 15-year-old girl, and it has become serious. They have had sex on two different occasions, and Will used a condom both times.

There was a brief pregnancy scare, and the girl was so concerned that she told ...Read more

Dear Annie: Recently, my husband and I chaperoned a seven-day office-sponsored trip for high school sophomores and juniors. My husband, who is in his 50s, is very outgoing. While on the trip, he developed quite a following among the teens, especially the girls, many of whom developed a little crush on him. I brought up the possibility that these...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have a 23-year-old son who is a heroin addict. "Rob" has been to rehab twice and has relapsed again. We have been attending Nar-Anon meetings for the past eight weeks and find them helpful. Rob seemingly has not hit rock bottom yet. By that, I mean he still has some income due to odd jobs and unemployment benefits. The ...Read more

Dear Annie: For the past seven years, I've worked for "Joe" and his assistant, "Nancy." Nancy recently took a four-month leave due to stress and anxiety. During her absence, Joe and I went to lunch a few times and dinner on one occasion. Nothing romantic happened. I planned to let Nancy know at the time, but didn't think it was important enough ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother-in-law was desperate to have grandchildren, but when our daughter was born, Mom turned out to be a horrible grandmother.

During visits to Grandma's house, our daughter had to entertain herself in a spare bedroom because Grandma's dogs didn't like kids, and Grandma wouldn't lock up her "babies" for the sake of ours. We ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a beautiful 3-month-old daughter. We live close to my parents, and they babysit "Abby" all the time.

Here's the problem. At my last dental visit, my dentist told me about a study that says adults with bad oral hygiene can transmit bacteria to children through kissing and sharing utensils, causing tooth infections in the kids....Read more

Dear Annie: I have had all I can take from your female readers who complain about the lack of intimacy from their husbands. You tell them to have their husband's testosterone checked and seek counseling. Allow me to give you a better answer.

It's true that men, as they get older and live with their partners for years, might not be as excited ...Read more

Dear Annie: Many years ago, I suspected my ex-husband of sexually abusing our daughter, "Mary." There was opportunity and some evidence. I didn't actually see anything. In and out of denial, I didn't know what to do, and so I didn't do anything. But it's tormented me.

Several years ago, Mary told me she believed she was sexually abused as a ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 54, and my girlfriend is 40. We've dated on and off for seven years. I love her, and I believe she loves me.

The problem is, she is incredibly jealous and honestly believes every woman is attracted to me. Even if that were true, I don't want "every" woman. My girlfriend is plenty of woman, and I want only her. But the jealousy ...Read more

Dear Annie: My parents and siblings often complain that they can't lose weight. However, they douse their food in salt and sauces, drink alcohol before bed, and have no qualms about pulling out the potato chips or chocolate candy. I used to be like them, but I've lost a great deal of weight and feel fantastic.

When my family complains about ...Read more

Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I informally agreed to move in together once I'm out of college and he is in grad school. Right now, we have a long-distance relationship.

Here's the problem. I recently found a two-year MFA program overseas that I've fallen in love with. I told my boyfriend that I'd like to apply, and initially, he seemed happy for...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband spends too much time on the internet and then gets upset when I say so. Several months ago, I caught him talking to a woman online, and I'm worried it's happening again. In spite of my suspicions, however, when I've checked his activity, I see nothing. (I realize he could be deleting things.)

Last night, we went out for ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a grown man in my early 30s, and I'm still having problems with my parents. My mother has always favored my older sister, even though my sister has been irresponsible her entire life. She abuses alcohol and drugs, but my mother won't acknowledge it and blames me for any altercation we have. My father is too timid to challenge ...Read more

Dear Annie: I read the letter from "Speechless in Omaha," whose friend, "Sharon," wouldn't stop talking. I am a physician and also the mother of an adult son with a serious mental illness. Sharon's speech is suggestive of "pressured speech," which is a hallmark of bipolar mania or hypomania. It also could be caused by extreme anxiety, certain ...Read more

Dear Annie: My younger brother, "George," is on the autism spectrum. He has a friend, "Cindy," with similar needs. For the past few years, my parents have welcomed Cindy into our home, and now she feels comfortable inviting herself over and doing whatever she wants. This means bossing George around and yelling at him while he avoids her by ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 33 years old and fed up with how distant my family is. I am disappointed with my grandparents for the way they behave. I grew up around them, but they moved to Arizona when I was 19.

I thought we were close, but it seems we are growing further apart. Sometimes they are in our town for several weeks, but we only hear from them ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am an attractive 30-something female who began experiencing thinning hair in my late 20s due to a thyroid disorder. Many women have the confidence to accept their hair loss and do nothing to hide it. I admire that. However, for me, it contributes to embarrassment, low self-esteem and a lack of confidence.

When I started wearing ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been with my boyfriend for eight years and find that I'm not as happy as I used to be. But we have a child together, which makes it harder to decide what to do.

For the past few years, I have been talking to another man. Nothing has happened between us, but we are very attracted to each other. We hang out occasionally, and I ...Read more