ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I'm a mother in my mid-20s and a very concerned sister. My brother, "Dennis," is four years younger and the first to graduate high school. He went to college and had everything going for him. Now he is throwing it all away.

Dennis turned to drugs and has missed important moments in our lives, such as weddings and holidays. He only ...Read more

Dear Annie: After two months, I am still upset with my father-in-law. My two daughters recently married, and the weddings were six weeks apart. My in-laws gave us a nice sum of money to help us with the weddings. We were very grateful and told them so.

Right before the first wedding, my husband lost his job. In order to finish paying for the ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been with "John" for more than 10 years. We have children together. I have reached the point in my life that I wish to be married. I never wanted to be a girlfriend forever, and he knew this from the beginning.

John says stupid things like, "If you did such-and-such, then I'd marry you." I don't believe marriage is about how ...Read more

Dear Annie: My family wants to move to another state. The only reason we haven't is because of my dad's job. He has worked for the same company for 18 years and doesn't want to lose his retirement benefits. I understand how important the job is, but the company could easily allow a transfer to another branch.

Whenever we try to talk to Dad ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am married to an absolute angel. Unfortunately, her mother has been living with us for the past two years. Mom doesn't work, doesn't do much of anything around the house, doesn't cook or clean, and sleeps until nearly noon. We have to ask her to do things, just as we would a child, and then she responds as if we're scolding her.

...Read more

Dear Annie: Two years ago, my son's fiancee recommended we rotate who hosts Christmas dinner. That year, she and my son went to her mom's house, and last year they were supposed to come to mine. Instead, they went to her mom's again and were upset that I didn't want to tag along. Annie, at the time, my 73-year-old mother was in a rehab facility....Read more

Dear Annie: With the recent events that have occurred across the country involving mass killings, this has prompted me to ask a question. What do you do if you know someone you think could end up in the news involved in a mass killing? What do you do with those gut feelings?

I know someone who has prompted me and others to think, "This guy is a...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been with a wonderful guy for five years. After two abusive marriages, I am finally being treated right. "Bud" and I have only two issues: money and kids. We have broken up a few times over our problems, but honestly, I can't live without him.

Bud is 44 years old and owns his own business, but he does not save money. When I met...Read more

Dear Annie: I am an associate in a law firm with two offices. Each office has three associate attorneys and is managed by a partner.

During my first year, I was the only associate in my office, and I received a Christmas bonus. The second year, we hired two additional associates. I was devastated when all of the staff but none of the associates...Read more

Dear Annie: Normally I'm good at minding my own business, but when I see how my granddaughter, "Susie," manipulates her mother (my daughter), I feel the urge to say something.

Susie is almost 12 and seems to be testing the limits in ways I would never have tolerated. She sasses her mother and dominates the conversation at the dinner table. When...Read more

Dear Annie: I am honored to see citizens and patriots step forward to honor and support one of our nation's greatest assets, the American veteran. Helping those who have given their mind, body and spirit in defense of our nation is woven into the fabric of our society. From the Revolutionary War to the present, everyday people donate their time ...Read more

Dear Annie: I would like to reply to "Arizona Grandparents," whose daughter won't allow them to see their grandchild. They asked whether it will ever get better.

My granddaughter was 6 when my son and his wife divorced and I was no longer allowed to see her. I continued to send her a card and money on every birthday and at Christmas. I never ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am in the process of converting to Judaism. Among other things, this involves eating only kosher food. Initially, it was difficult, but I know that doing this brings me closer to understanding more of my new religion.

My problem is that most of my friends, including some Jewish friends, have an issue with my eating habits. They ...Read more

Dear Annie: After 44 years of marriage, I can no longer trust my husband. "Steve" reconnected with a high school flame, and the end result was late-night emails, texts and calls. He even bought throwaway phones so they could stay in touch and meet out of town.

We went for counseling, and Steve took a stack of note cards to the first session ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been studying abroad in Rome for the past three months. I head back to America in a few weeks. I can honestly say I haven't missed being home. I've absolutely loved my stay in Europe. I feel safe and happy.

The one thing I'm dreading is reverse culture shock. I'm afraid I'll resent my small-town college or that I'll become ...Read more

Dear Annie: My 20-something children attend school in other cities. On occasion, they have asked to bring their current boyfriend or girlfriend home for a visit to meet the family. The friend then stays in a separate room for a night or two.

The problem is my husband. He gets extremely upset about these visits and accuses me of encouraging ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have an 11-year-old daughter, and I feel she may know more about the "birds and bees" than she should because of what she sees on TV and hears on the radio.

It seems that every time I turn on the radio, we hear a song with the word "sex" in it multiple times. When we watch TV (even so-called family shows on family-oriented ...Read more

Dear Annie: My problem is my relationship with my daughter, "Carolyn." It started 10 years ago when she went to visit her grandparents in another state. My parents and I haven't had a close relationship since I was in my 20s. I am now 57.

I raised Carolyn as a single parent without a dime of child support from her father. I worked 12-hour days ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 19 years old and afraid that my brother is gay.

"James" recently made a new friend at work who is gay. He has been going to the library with this new friend and spending the entire day there doing homework. James doesn't own a phone, so it is hard for my mother to get ahold of him. Sometimes he leaves for work at 6 p.m. and ...Read more

Dear Annie: My parents have been divorced for 30 years. Both made mistakes when they were married, but the end was due to my mom's drinking. Dad provided for me and now takes an active role in his grandchildren's lives, always making an effort to show up for their events.

Mom is a different story. She is an alcoholic. When I was younger, she ...Read more