ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I am in a relationship with a widower. He is a thoughtful person and works two jobs. His two adult sons live in his home with their girlfriends. Neither of the boys pays rent. Nor do they buy groceries or cleaning supplies. They never offer to take their father out to dinner or do anything special for him. Their father buys their ...Read more

Dear Annie: My girlfriend broke up with me in April because she wanted to date another guy. Over the summer, she sent me random emails and text messages about various things, a few of which I answered out of politeness.

In September, we both attended the funeral of a mutual friend. I let her know that I wasn't totally over her, but I was doing ...Read more

Dear Annie: We have five grown children. One of our sons, "Mark," obtained a contractor's license and asked to remodel our kitchen and bathroom so he could show his work to potential customers. He said the only cost to us would be for materials, which he estimated to be about $300.

Mark has always been a troubled kid and stubborn to a fault. He...Read more

Dear Annie: Four months ago, I joined a nonprofit that provides free tutoring and homework help to elementary-school kids. When I started, the kids coming into our center were from low-income minority and immigrant families. These were kids who would be home alone all afternoon if they didn't come to us.

A few weeks ago, the demographic shifted...Read more

Dear Annie: For many years, your compassionate readers have brightened the lives of America's hospitalized veterans by participating in the Valentines for Vets program during Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week (Feb. 12-18). This program encourages readers to deliver valentines and visit with veterans at their local Department of Veterans ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a divorced, 53-year-old female living in Las Vegas, and I have a divorced sister who lives in South Carolina. I am retired and work part time. My sister also is retired, but shortly after she moved to South Carolina, she was unable to walk or stand for any length of time. Doctors said a broken back from an accident years ago was...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 26-year-old guy who is pretty quiet. I really don't go out anywhere except to the mall on weekends.

A few months ago, a girl started working at one of the places I frequent. I could tell she was interested in me the first time I saw her, and she has become increasingly friendly. She recently asked me what my name is.

I like ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I are friends with a couple I'll call "Rusty and Cathy." We like their company, but we have very few of the same interests. The problem is, they believe that if a husband and wife do not share the same interests, it is OK for the husband to spend time with other women who do.

I believe this is setting the stage for ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married to "Dennis" for 15 years. The first 10 were pretty good, but this last year has been miserable.

We have four children, all under age 8. Dennis works during the week, and I work weekends so one of us can always be home with the kids. We've had this set-up for four years, and it was working just fine.

Seven months...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been with "Max" for nearly four years, and we recently moved in together. We got along great until Max became very needy and suspicious. He works days, and I work nights. If he calls home and I don't answer the phone, he flips out. He calls me at work at least three times a day, and gets me out of bed after I've had only a few ...Read more

Dear Annie: My young-adult son, "Elliot," delivers pizza for one of the top chains. His assistant manager constantly harasses my son about being gay, which he is not. He even has gone so far as to write things in the bathroom.

Would this qualify as sexual harassment? Elliot already has complained to the local manager and the area manager, and ...Read more

Dear Annie: My 32-year-old daughter, "Carla," has never had a date or a boyfriend, although she has had lots of crushes that have never been returned. I suspect it's because she is very overweight (about 100 pounds), and this has been a bone of contention in our relationship since childhood. I have learned not to talk about it since it ...Read more

Dear Annie: This is in response to the letter from "Not Living in Peace in Tallahassee, Fla.," who discovered a registered sex offender living next door. Your advice was way off. "Tallahassee" needs to put a sign in her yard saying "A SEX OFFENDER LIVES NEXT DOOR" with a big arrow pointing toward his house, and then get out the bullhorn and ...Read more

Dear Annie: When my wife and I married, she requested that I avoid conflict with her manipulative stepfather so that she could maintain a relationship with her mother. I consented to her request.

However, her stepfather's abusive demeanor got worse until, at a dinner party my wife hosted, he made several crude and base statements about my wife ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife, "Nicole," had an affair with a co-worker last year. When I found out, I was devastated, and I still have emotional problems because of it. We have four children, so we worked it out the best we could.

Nicole continued to work at the same place with this same co-worker for a short time after I found out, and it was killing ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 20-year-old male in a rather unusual situation. I have been intrigued by crossdressing since I was 12 and, as a result, took to "borrowing" a few things from my mother, mainly underwear.

I still live at home, and this interest of mine has caused me much embarrassment. My father has found the borrowed clothing several times ...Read more

Dear Annie: Can someone explain to me how a man can take a 33-year marriage and just walk away? The heck with his children, grandchildren and wife.

We must sell our home of 30 years, as this is a no-fault divorce state. I have not worked in 30 years, and at age 55, I must find a job, probably one that pays minimum wage. I have many health-...Read more

Dear Annie: Our only son plans to marry a woman who has a son from a previous marriage. "Lance" and his intended have biological clocks ticking, and I expect they will produce progeny very soon.

We are unwilling grandparents. We don't like little kids much and want to keep our distance from this whole exercise. On the other hand, we would like ...Read more

Dear Readers: Happy New Year! We hope this year is the best ever for each and every one of you. Here's a poem by Robert B. Beattie that expresses some lovely sentiments. We hope you will enjoy it:

A Way to a Happy New Year

To leave the old with a burst of song;

To recall the right and forgive the wrong;

To forget the things that bind you ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife's parents are somewhat typical baby boomers. Enjoying the privileges of early retirement, they are extremely doting and generous grandparents. It has become a weekly tradition for them to pick up our children from school on Fridays and bring them home for a meal.

Here's the problem. When we get home from work, we are always ...Read more