ArcaMax

DEAR ABBY: My mother is extremely self-centered. Ever since I can remember, everything has always been about her. That's probably why she and Dad split. You can't have a conversation with her without her turning it around and making it about her.

I'm 25. I just want to have a regular conversation with my mom without her somehow bringing the ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a great guy for a few months. He treats me well and seems to care about me and my family. He offers to help with the bills and cleaning my place. He's also kind and honest, and he's actually the first guy I have ever dated I feel I can fully trust.

I was single for years before we started dating, and during all ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: For the first time in my life, I am in love. We met about a month ago. I know he's the man I have waited my entire life to meet. I am 33, so I know what I feel isn't just lust. We have one huge hurdle, though: religion. He's actively religious, while I am not, and he doesn't believe our relationship can survive this difference.

On ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 15 years and love my wife very much, but we drifted apart. Then I went and did something really stupid and had an affair. It lasted only a few weeks, and I regret it. My now-ex-wife and I are still working on our relationship. Yes, it was the wrong thing to do, but because of the affair, we have grown closer ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband cannot be around a female without putting his hands on her shoulder or back. He has to touch. I'm not jealous, but embarrassed when I see women cringe and the expression on their faces sometimes. I keep hoping one of them will confront him about it. It's getting worse the older he gets, especially with younger women.

Do ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a 16-year-old girl in a somewhat happy relationship. When I first started dating my boyfriend, he was all about it, as was I. But now it seems like he's only interested in sex. He's always asking me to send him videos and pictures of myself nude, and I just keep telling him I'm not ready for anything like that. I also don't think...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I enjoy reading your column, especially letters regarding young girls and their social skills. I have two granddaughters who have the normal drama, mostly with other girls. I worry their social skills are getting sidetracked.

I am interested in ordering your booklet about popularity. You have such a good way with words, and I'm sure ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I recently got married to a wonderful man who is 19 years younger than I am. He's the love of my life. The problem is, he sleeps totally on one side of the bed and isn't affectionate at night except when we are making love. Then he is amazing -- affectionate, sensitive, and very attentive and kind.

He says his mother was very cold ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a 65-year-old woman, attractive and lonely. I am uncomfortable using dating sites because I have genital herpes. I was infected by my first husband more than 40 years ago.

If I were to meet someone on one of those sites, when would be the right time to reveal my problem? After we have gotten to know each other? Or should I be up...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My parents are in their 80s. Both are of sound mind and body. However, they never saved for their retirement and never talked to a financial adviser to help them make financial decisions. Dad receives a pension, but upon his death, Mom will receive nothing. This is the way they set it up years ago. They own their home, and that's ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I go away once a year and leave our two toddlers with family. This year, their aunt couldn't watch them, so we asked his cousin Renee, who we have always liked, to watch them. She agreed, and we paid her $150 for the weekend. We also bought food she liked and stocked the cupboards with foods the kids eat. We knew ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to my husband for five years. He's the man of my dreams, and we have a wonderful marriage. Recently we learned that his ex-wife -- to whom he was married for 20 years -- has been diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer. They have two adult children together.

I have never questioned my husband's love or devotion ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been happily married to Roger for 20 years and have two kids still at home. They are pretty independent now, but my husband was very involved in coaching and volunteering when they were younger.

Sometimes when Roger and I take walks, we run into children playing in a yard or biking up and down the block. If they initiate ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a mother of three and happily married to my kids' father. I am now seven months pregnant with my fourth baby, but this child is not my husband's. My husband is a loving man and a good father. My problem is, I don't know how to tell him I'm not carrying his baby. The man I slept with is married and always saying he wants to marry ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I met my boyfriend, Matt, when I was a sophomore in high school. We started dating when I was a senior. By then, he was already active-duty military. We weren't serious at the time (his decision, not mine). We've always had a long-distance relationship.

During his first deployment, Matt broke up with me. He told me he didn't want to ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 26 years. We have a daughter, 25, who recently graduated from college. We will have a small gathering of close friends and family to celebrate.

During our entire marriage, anytime we invited my in-laws to birthday parties or other special occasions, they never accepted unless we agreed for the ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My brother was adopted at birth through an agency, but he was never told. He's in his mid-50s now. We have no other siblings. Our parents never felt my brother was emotionally strong enough to accept the news of his adoption. Our father passed on years ago, and our mother is now elderly.

From a health care point of view, I think my ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Two years ago, my boyfriend broke up with me by sending me a note. We had been together for 14 years. His boss had introduced him to a twice-divorced woman with three kids. What really hurts me is he started his new relationship with a lie. He told her he wasn't involved with anyone.

He just contacted me to tell me they are engaged. ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm an active, 60-something wife, mother and grandmother who was recently diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's disease. From all outward appearances, I appear healthy and I'm living my life as normally as possible, as my neurologist suggested.

My symptom manifests as a right-sided (dominant side) hand tremor that I try to hide as ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My ex is a recovering drug addict. We have a 2-year-old son together. I realized he was using drugs when I was seven months pregnant and all our money was gone.

I stayed with him for a year after I learned about his addiction. That year was the hardest year of my life. Choosing to leave was extremely painful, and I still cry about it...Read more