ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I've been a widow for 15 years. I moved to another state to be with my kids and met "Jerry." We've been dating for nine months.

Jerry has been divorced for two years and has two adult children. His ex-wife was his childhood sweetheart and the only woman he'd ever been with. The problem is, I have never been to Jerry's house. He ...Read more

Dear Annie: Recently, I invited my best friend, "Evan," and his family of four to join my family at a popular out-of-state theme park. Our children are similar ages, and we have always gotten along well even though we live in different states.

My wife and I are members of a vacation program and offered to use our hotel points to save Evan a ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been dating my boyfriend for four years. We both have children from our previous relationships and share custody with our exes. Until recently, we had our kids on the same weekends. Then my boyfriend's ex decided that her children cannot be here when my 11-year-old son is staying over.

Because my son is the oldest, he tends...Read more

Dear Annie: My father, my brothers and I all served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Only my father and I deployed to combat areas.

Dad retired five years ago and is showing drastic symptoms of PTSD. He is stockpiling food and medical supplies and keeps trying to get my wife and me to "prepare" for when "it all hits the fan." He spends hours a...Read more

Dear Annie: I am an elementary school teacher. This year I have two 7-year-old students with major behavior issues. Both of them have threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot me and their classmates. As shocking as it is to hear this from such young children, the response from the people in charge is worse.

I reported these threats ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married 42 years, and she plans to retire in a few months. I am unemployed, cannot find a job and consider myself retired already.

I do the grocery shopping and have dinner on the table by the time my wife returns from work, except two days a week when we go out to eat. However, my wife won't let me touch ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 20 and attending college near my parents' home. Despite what my Catholic family wants, I've been exploring other religions for the past five years and have decided that Judaism is the right road for me. I want to let my family in on this process, but I'm afraid they'll react badly and insist that my Jewish fiance is swaying my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm in my mid-20s, and my sister is a junior in high school. "Tina" has always looked up to me as the "cool brother," and we've become buddies. I tell her my issues at work and my troubles with women, and she tells me far more than she does the rest of our family. We've grown to trust each other.

Last week when the mail arrived, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 54-year-old lesbian in a 23-year relationship. My partner and I have begun to hate traveling. Don't get me wrong. We love and enjoy exotic places, but dealing with stupid and rude people is getting old.

Our problem has to do with the ladies room. We are often mistaken for men and questioned. I don't get it. Some women seem ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been with "Tony" for three years. When I started seeing him, I didn't realize he was still legally married to a woman who cheated on him. He promised to divorce, but things remain the same. He claims "it's just a piece of paper" and we are married in our hearts. I've tried explaining that it feels disrespectful, but he doesn...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 32 years old and live with my girlfriend, "Sarah," who is 37. We have been together for eight months. Things were great in the beginning, but lately the relationship has been going south.

There is an ex-boyfriend who won't leave the picture, and Sarah is partly to blame. When he sends texts or calls, she deletes them so I can...Read more

Dear Annie: I graduated from college last year. I have a modest paying job in my hometown and can afford rent. But since I am trying to save money for graduate school, I moved back in with my parents. My folks agreed. They are quite frugal and would be disappointed if I chose to spend the extra money on rent.

I have a solid relationship with ...Read more

Dear Annie: My daughter, "Ashley," is divorced and has four children. She has had numerous volatile boyfriends. The last guy sliced the tires on her car.

Ashley says I need to mind my own business, so I have been quiet about her poor choices. But her latest guy is listed in the state registry of sex offenders for molesting an 11-year-old girl...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been married for 36 years. The first 20 were loving, but the past 16 have deteriorated to the point of despair.

My husband, "John," is now 68. Though once athletic and active, John is now frail and weak. He complains of chronic headaches and a host of other physical ailments, and worst of all, he suffers from major bouts of ...Read more

Dear Annie: I grew up with a sister who had substance abuse problems. While I studied hard, "Carla" dropped out of school and led a life of partying. My parents always made sure she was well provided for. Every time they gave her something expensive, my mother would say, "Don't worry, you will get the same in my will."

Then one day, my ...Read more

Dear Annie: Many years ago, my wife and I lived near my parents. After three years of putting up with their too frequent and always unannounced visits, we moved slightly farther away. My Dad is the worst offender. Mom caters to his every whim. Dad is extremely selfish and really never cares whether he intrudes.

After we moved, the drop-in ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a teenager in the northwest. Recently, I contracted a kidney infection that was painful and needed treatment. I didn't know what I had and wasn't familiar with the symptoms, so the only thing I said to my parents was that I didn't feel well. After a few days, it got so bad that I had to go to the emergency room. I was given a ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a question about forced touching. Let's say an 8-year-old doesn't want to hug her uncle or give Grandma a kiss. Do you force the kid to do it? Do you badger, threaten and make a fuss?

I'm wondering about this because if you tell your kid, "You have to give this person a hug" or "You have to shake their hand," aren't you ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 55 years old and have worked at my job for 25 years. A couple of years ago, the company hired a 26-year-old guy. I have been patient, but I am reaching the end of my rope.

"Justin" cannot remember what was said the minute he hangs up the telephone. He doesn't pay attention to what he is doing. He lies all the time, and we all...Read more

Dear Annie: I desperately need your help. I thoroughly love my solitude. I love to garden, cook, sew and read. I grill every few weeks and make it a fantastic outdoor experience just for me.

I could hardly wait to retire so I could finally enjoy myself completely. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. Between my neighbors, relatives and...Read more