ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My niece, "Susan," is 23 years old and in college. After four years, she still hasn't picked a major. She is quite intelligent, but lazy and immature. She is socially awkward and has lost friends because of her negative attitude.

My problem is, Susan wants to "hang out" with my 15-year-old daughter. She invites herself over whenever...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a sister who is 10 years older. "Doris" lives in a retirement hotel, and we speak often on the phone and see each other once a month or so.

Recently, my oldest son told me he saw Doris dining in a posh restaurant. Even though I have since spoken to Doris, she never mentioned seeing my son. When I finally asked her why she ...Read more

Dear Annie: Three months ago, my husband and I were introduced to a couple through mutual friends. My husband could not take his eyes off the woman all evening. They arranged to go on an all-day seminar course together. The course leader took a suggestive photo of them that he circulated to all his male friends. Shortly after, he asked for a ...Read more

Dear Annie: My incredible husband of two years has a 4-year-old daughter with his ex-wife. I have actively helped raise "Christie" since she was barely a year.

We haven't communicated with the mother since the time we took her to court for refusing visitation, but my husband and I have always provided for Christie in every way possible, above ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am perplexed as to what to do. I'm positive that my wife was a victim of incest, but I don't know how to broach the subject or how to help her.

Her sister manifests similar problems that I've heard are caused by rape by one's father. But I don't have any hard evidence, only a hunch. What can I do? How do you open such a discussion...Read more

Dear Annie: Two years ago, I walked away from a 28-year marriage. A year after my divorce was final, I began seeing an old family friend. My ex-husband has decided that the only possible reason for why I left him is another man, because in his humble opinion, he was perfect during our marriage. I have told him over and over the reasons why I ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been dating "Gary" for 11 years. He is in his early 50s and has never married. Neither of us has children. Gary and I travel together, go camping and attend major sporting events. We make each other laugh and have fun in the bedroom. We truly are best friends.

My problem is the lack of commitment. Although I'm welcome at Gary's...Read more

Dear Annie: When a child dies in your family, the world changes, and you will never again be the same person. Life goes on, but priorities change, and remembering the child who has died is an important way of traveling through your grief journey to the other side. The holiday season is especially difficult, as old traditions often give way to ...Read more

Dear Annie: Over the summer, I had a falling out with my best friend, "Alicia." I had invited all of our friends to a party, and one of them brought along a boy, "Andrew," whom she specifically wanted me to meet. I liked him. But Alicia literally pushed me out of the way so she could talk to him and made a point of diverting his attention away ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have a wonderful 3-year-old son. We have a great home and make good money, but life stinks.

For the past year, my wife has insisted on allowing our son to sleep in our bed. And in case you're about to ask, the answer is yes, we have not been able to do the one thing that married people normally do in bed.

When my wife...Read more

Dear Annie: A few months ago, I discovered that my wife was having an affair with her boss. She works for a small company that requires long hours and some traveling.

When I confronted her, she didn't deny it. When I asked her why, she said it was all the long hours, traveling and a little drinking that made it happen. She took full ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a woman who follows a strict diet. It has nothing to do with weight or any medical condition. I don't care about calories. It's about eating organic, and there are a lot of things I do not tolerate, such as corn syrup, food coloring, table sugar, unfiltered water, etc.

If I do not approve of a treat someone has made, is it ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother is in her late 90s. She insists on covering her kitchen counters with newspaper, including the areas right next to the electric cooktop and the microwave. My mother does not see this as a fire risk. She thinks it is keeping a clean house.

The last time I cleaned her kitchen, I was disgusted by the small insects and bits of...Read more

Dear Annie: Six months ago, I reconnected with the guy I have loved since grade school. "Thomas" left after graduation to live in another state. I know he has schizophrenia, and I'm willing to take the risk. Even though I'm 18 and still in high school, I plan to become a doctor. I've done research and know what I'm up against. Thomas says he ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am in a dispute with my kids' middle school. For the past two summers, the school has recommended to our 8th-grade students several reading selections that contain crude language and explicit sexual content. I don't understand why. The "reading specialist" who helped select the titles says, "Kids need to read things that aren't ...Read more

Dear Readers: Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! We hope you are fortunate enough to be spending the holiday with family and friends. We also hope you remembered those who are alone today and would love to be part of your family on this occasion. If it's too late to include them this year, please make a note on your calendar to invite them next ...Read more

Dear Annie: Several months ago, my 17-year-old son's girlfriend had a baby. I was upset at first, but then realized that the couple was young and needed help. My house now looks like a daycare center.

For the whole nine months, we were part of the pregnancy. I paid for the mother to have an additional ultrasound, purchased a heartbeat bear for ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife's aunt "Zelda" is 83 and lives alone. She is in the early stages of dementia, and her short-term memory is rapidly deteriorating. She will ask the same question multiple times within a 15-minute span. She also is extremely paranoid. She is convinced people are entering her house at night and stealing small items, such as ...Read more

Dear Annie: I was married to my husband for 31 years. Two years ago, he was killed in an accident. I loved him to the moon and back and miss him terribly.

Eight months later, my daughter introduced me to a nice gentleman. He is a sweet man, and we have been seeing each other ever since. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law is upset and bitter ...Read more

Dear Annie: I work in a large organization and know my colleagues quite well. Though I enjoy working with them, a number of them recently have begun borrowing cash from me. These are usually requests for small amounts to cover the cost of lunch or coffee, but over time, they add up. Not a single one of them has ever voluntarily repaid me. When I...Read more