ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My brother and sister and I had an amazing childhood. Our parents stressed the importance of hard work and education. The three of us got advanced degrees, and my sister and I entered the workforce after graduation.

Our brother, "Dennis," however, seems content to live with my parents, working a seasonal minimum-wage job. He was ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband's sister "Kelsey" filed for divorce a few months ago. Her soon-to-be ex-husband kept in touch. He told me that Kelsey had been cheating on him with the guy she is currently seeing. I didn't want to believe him, but in the past few weeks, I've discovered that Kelsey has been lying to her parents, her brother and me about ...Read more

Dear Annie: Five months ago, I met "Abby" at my job. We have a lot in common and have become close. We flirt with each other. Here's the problem. Abby is 41, and I am 20. She looks and acts much younger.

Abby is in a terrible relationship with her narcissistic soon-to-be ex-husband "Dave." They have two young children. Dave is jealous and ...Read more

Dear Annie: A few months ago, my husband mentioned that he'd responded to an email from a girl he used to know. I didn't think much about it, but then I saw him composing an email, and every time I walked near him, he shielded it from me. He started spending more time on the computer, and I got curious. Finally, I checked his account and saw ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am married to "Chris," a wonderful man. He was previously married and has major trust issues because of his ex-wife. I can handle most of this, but one thing has become worse over the past two years.

Chris has this idea that I wear outfits that show too much skin and attract other men. But, Annie, I don't wear clothes like that. ...Read more

Dear Annie: For the past five years, I've been with the most wonderful woman. "Jane" and I plan to marry, but we haven't set a date because she has two adult daughters who still live at home, and their future plans are unsettled.

Her younger daughter, "Trudi," is 24 and recovering from a debilitating gambling problem. Trudi lost her job, got ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been happily married for eight years, and we have two beautiful children. Recently, an ex-boyfriend called to let me know that his father had died. I hadn't heard from him in 12 years.

"Matt" and I began speaking regularly and even spent some time together. My husband knew all of this and was OK with it. One ...Read more

Dear Annie: My brother-in-law, "Travis," has been in a relationship with his girlfriend, "Kristin," for eight years. They now have two young children. Kristin has cheated on him too many times to count and continues to do so. They fight about it constantly.

The problem is that Travis is so wrapped up in what Kristin is doing with various other ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a college senior, graduating in May. I am currently undertaking two internships, and one of them will include a job offer when a position opens up. But I don't know if I should take it.

I have always had a passionate desire to live in Europe. Since childhood, I have never wanted anything so much. Last year, I studied abroad in ...Read more

Dear Annie: Twenty years ago, my 16-year-old son left my home in North Dakota to live with his mother in Arizona. He was tired of my drinking and the poor living conditions we had. Not long after he left, I went into alcohol treatment and started a long affiliation with AA. I now have nearly 20 years of sobriety.

For a number of years, I was ...Read more

Dear Annie: Four months ago, my wife of 22 years left me. She moved in with her parents, filed for divorce and said she is going to find happiness. She had an affair, and we tried to work through it, but she wanted me to heal according to her timetable, not mine.

I have custody of our children, and she rarely sees them. When she does, it is all...Read more

Dear Annie: We have two children and a 13-year-old grandson. Two years ago, our 48-year-old unmarried son very reluctantly told us that he has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder and considers himself to be female. This came as a complete surprise, but we decided to support her wholeheartedly, and we find her to be much happier than ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 11 years. We have three young children and a great relationship.

We recently decided to move from Boston to Georgia. My husband, children and I believe it is the right choice. The problem is my mother-in-law. Right now, we live within a mile of her. She is devastated that we are moving and is ...Read more

Dear Annie: My 25-year marriage is falling apart. My husband's 40-year-old daughter, "Sally," has been living with us for eight months. She occasionally buys a few groceries, but otherwise pays nothing. She does no work around the house. I've asked her to help clean the shared bathroom. She says she doesn't think she should have to do any ...Read more

Dear Annie: You frequently print letters from husbands whose wives show no interest in sex, but I've never seen a problem like mine. My wife loves sex. However, she will never initiate it or act seductively. If I don't initiate sex, it doesn't happen. We can go for weeks without it. Yet when we are intimate, she adores it. She frequently says, "...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a never-ending situation with my husband, whom I love very much. We have two preteen daughters he insists on taking across the border to Mexico to visit his family. With the recent drug wars and violence there, I am beside myself in allowing this to happen. The arguments have been so heated that we've actually talked to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a white male and have fallen in love with an African-American woman who is 12 years older. I have never met such a wonderful, kind, sweet, caring and loving woman. She makes me laugh. She is my soul mate. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

At the moment, we aren't dating. We are just friends, but I'd like more than ...Read more

Dear Annie: Would you please give your readers some information on herpes, both types? Can you address the fact that the lip type doesn't always stay above the waist, or the genital type below? Also, this virus can be in your body for years before it ever manifests itself. (That's when your spouse claims to have been faithful and it might be ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother is in her late 80s and is becoming increasingly difficult. She's always been rather critical, but now she is downright rude and insulting. It's as though being old gives her the right to say anything that pops into her head without consideration for anyone else's feelings.

My husband tells me to ignore her comments. I know...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been with my husband for more than 25 years. During that period, he has cheated countless times, left me for other women and developed a crack habit. I have tried to stick it out because I believe marriage is for better or worse.

Right now is definitely "worse." He will not admit that he has a problem. He hangs out with some ...Read more