ArcaMax

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

Dear Annie: I am a black physician who was born in Haiti. From my first days in the United States (in the early 1960s), I have been appalled at the "race" tag hanging on all of us.

I can understand ethnicity and country of origin, but when I hear the word "race," I always feel all of us are from the same "human race." After all, we don't ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband, "Chuck," and my best friend, "Lorna," partnered to purchase and remodel old houses for rental. At first, it worked well. Chuck did the physical work, and Lorna did the aesthetic stuff. But they had too many clashes and decided to call it quits.

Chuck suggested they split the four properties evenly. He thought Lorna had...Read more

Dear Annie: In January, I finally married the woman of my dreams. "Julie" was sweet and kind, with lots of love to give. Things went well for a few weeks, but then everything changed. Julie has always had issues with depression. She'd be overwhelmed from time to time but always came to me for comfort. Suddenly, she didn't want me near her when...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 29 and have been a teacher in a small town for seven years. During this time, I have had two serious relationships, but neither worked out.

Recently, my mother has been on me about moving so I can find someone to marry and have kids. I understand that she doesn't want me to be alone, but, Annie, I have wonderful friends here....Read more

Dear Annie: My husband is a wonderful man in almost every respect. But when we are in the car together, he uses road rage to manipulate me into agreeing to things I don't want. He'll drive threateningly if I don't say it's OK for him to take that fishing trip or go to a movie. When he is the driver, he controls everyone because we are ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have a 20-year-old daughter, "Brianna." We pay for her private college tuition, as well as all of her expenses.

In August, Brianna was invited for a weeklong trip to Hawaii with her boyfriend's family. She decided to go without discussing it with us. We had made plans to get her a new apartment that week so she ...Read more

Dear Annie: I want to share my story of depression -- and hope -- so that it might help others.

I'm nearly 50 now, but only recently did I recognize the depression that has plagued my life. I had the symptoms for decades: bursts of anger, loss of appetite, lack of interest in work and activities, avoiding people, constantly thinking about ...Read more

Dear Annie: My niece, "Anna," is married to "Andy." He is a real loser. Andy was in the military and was discharged early with a supposed disability from a pain in his hip. He refuses to get a job, because he's "disabled." Yet he plays football and basketball, roughhouses with his cousins, and spends the rest of his time playing video games ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 40 years old and have a younger brother. My mother died a few years ago. My father is 67, in good health and very active. We all live near one another.

In June, I received a Facebook message from a woman in another state saying she is the mother of Dad's 42-year-old son. It included contact information for "Chris" and a few ...Read more

Dear Annie: My extended family has always been big on celebrating family birthdays for the adults. Celebrations used to include a meal at a restaurant, but as the families expanded, we began celebrating at relatives' homes with appetizers followed by cake and ice cream.

The problem is, these parties always take place at the homes of ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son married a young widow with two small boys. They have been married 15 years and are currently expecting their first child together. Throughout this marriage, my daughter-in-law would never let my son have any kind of fatherly relationship with her older boy, although he was the sole father of the younger child. Now the older ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son passed away last year from cancer. Not even two months after his death, my daughter-in-law began dating a married man. She then became pregnant and moved in with him and my two young granddaughters. She had the baby 11 months after my son's death.

I am upset about her choice to move on so quickly. Worse, she has told my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm writing on behalf of those of us in the "trapped" generation. We are the ones who grew up thinking Doris Day was the ideal woman. We were college-educated, but still expected to marry and have a family. Many of us limited our careers to part-time efforts.

Then came our husbands' midlife crises and no-fault divorces. For many ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am an 88-year-old father with three grown daughters. I have a substantial amount listed in my will, which originally was to be equally divided.

A year ago, my youngest daughter and I had a falling out. I said something that irritated her, and she said I am not allowed to bring up that subject again. I replied, "Don't tell me ...Read more

Dear Annie: My mother-in-law blatantly favors her oldest granddaughter, "Miranda," to the exclusion of the other four. She says Miranda is the "good granddaughter" and her 17-year-old sister, "Amy," is the "troublemaker."

I believe that Amy acts out partly because of the negative label she has been saddled with for years. Meanwhile, Miranda ...Read more

Dear Annie: My 21-year-old granddaughter recently confided that she doesn't attract men and doesn't know why. It bothers her a great deal. She knows it's not her looks. She is good looking. She has had some self-esteem issues due to dyslexia and received counseling.

"Kelly" had one relationship that she ended recently due to his verbal abuse....Read more

Dear Annie: For years, I have been attending friends' weddings, showers, graduation parties, birthday parties, engagement parties and other happy occasions.

The problem is, these things require me to give up my time and money. I don't want to make enemies, but I truly do not care that your great-granddaughter is having a baby. I don't know ...Read more

Dear Annie: My boyfriend of seven months recently ended things suddenly. "Ethan" is Mormon, and I'm Lutheran. We were planning a future together. Ethan claims he wants to go on a mission and cannot prepare to do God's work while having a girlfriend. He said we could still be friends.

But here's the thing. He started hanging out with "Susan" ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 38 and have been with my husband for 18 years. We have built a wonderful life with great kids, but circumstances led to a separation. I was the one who wanted it. My husband is a good guy, but he just hasn't been able to give me the love I want. Something is always more important. He now says he's willing to do anything to ...Read more