Life Advice
/Health
Son Is Consumed By Regret Over Treatment Of His Father
DEAR ABBY: I brought my 68-year-old immigrant father to live with me permanently with the intention of caring for him. He was completely dependent. Halfway through the year, I got angry, told him to move back and vowed to myself I would never ever care for him again. It wasn't that he did anything wrong; I don't know why I got so angry.
He ...Read more
Playful Name-Calling Isn't Fun Anymore For Boyfriend
DEAR ABBY: My girlfriend and I call each other horrible, disparaging names as a form of love. Recently, I asked her to stop calling me names like that because it was fun at first, but now not so much. For me, it was just too negative.
I love her, and I want to show it by my actions. I want us to be a positive couple. I now call her Bebe. Well, ...Read more
Truth Of Man's Marital Status Is Revealed After His Death
DEAR ABBY: This is a delicate situation. Four days after my boyfriend (whom I had been seeing for 8 1/2 years) was killed in an accident, I found out he was married. He had claimed for years that he was divorced and even produced a copy of his divorce decree several years ago. It is a long story.
He has been dead for five months now, and I need...Read more
Falling-Out With Friend Group Puts Wife In Awkward Position
DEAR ABBY: I'm married to the most patient, loving and wonderful husband in the world. Recently, I had a falling-out with his friend group. I admit I was not a good friend due to mental illness, and I know I may never earn their forgiveness. I'm taking responsibility for my actions and seeking help. Now I want to move on and forget I ever knew ...Read more
Mother's Intuition Warns Of Trouble Under Her Roof
DEAR ABBY: I suspect that something has been going on with my husband and our daughter-in-law. My husband has become obsessed with her, and they both seem to become nervous when they are around me at the same time. My husband is always checking to see when I'm leaving.
My son and daughter-in-law and their three kids live in our duplex, but my ...Read more
Man's Bisexual Past Gnaws At Woman's Sense Of Trust
DEAR ABBY: I am a 49-year-old woman who has been in a romantic relationship with a good, caring man for two years. We live together, and he shows me all the time how much he loves me. We have amazing chemistry and are very affectionate. We enjoy spending time together, especially outdoors.
When we first started dating, he told me he was ...Read more
Two-Year Relationship Seems To Be Off More Often Than On
DEAR ABBY: I have been on and off with a man for two years. In all this time, he has never spent a holiday or Valentine's Day with me, or introduced me to his family or friends. He told me to stay in the bathroom at his office when his friends showed up unexpectedly. When I objected, he said, It's only for 20 minutes. I was horrified.
He ...Read more
'Helpful' Husband Is Caught Twice With Younger Women
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 26 years. Five years ago, my husband gave a young lady $5,000 through credit card charges over a six-month period. We are not wealthy. When I found the charges in our credit report, he took a second job to pay it off.
I don't think their relationship was sexual because he is impotent. It was hurtful. While he ...Read more
Mom's Spiritual Plans Collide With Daughter's Wedding Date
DEAR ABBY: My mother has become very spiritual over the last eight years or so. Recently, it has become all-consuming and on the verge of becoming detrimental. She often refers to her guides (she says they are feelings, but I think she's getting brainwashed by human guides online), who have convinced her to withdraw thousands of dollars from her...Read more
Man Takes Umbrage At Women Who Are Stingy With Thanks
DEAR ABBY: I am a male reader with a complaint. Have you noticed that women hardly ever compliment men? On ANYTHING! They expect men to compliment them but never reciprocate.
If you move furniture, take them out for a nice dinner, buy tickets to their favorite show, buy them a gift, they don't have enough manners or couth to say thank you or ...Read more
Student Longs For Hometown Left Behind In Move Overseas
DEAR ABBY: I recently moved from the U.S. to Germany. It has been a big change, and I honestly don't know how to handle it. A lot of the kids at school make fun of me and call me names.
My family plans to stay here another two years. My parents say that when/if we move back to the United States, we won't return to our hometown. I find this very...Read more
Mom's Life Has Less Stress After Man Leaves For Prison
DEAR ABBY: I recently had a child with a man who is now incarcerated. I was widowed when I met him, and although he brought me happiness, it has come at a steep price.
I pay for literally everything. I love him very much, but his entitlement was an issue even before he had legal issues. Now he has become very nasty and minimizes everything I do...Read more
Only Grandchild Announces Transition To Living As A Boy
DEAR ABBY: My granddaughter just informed me she has decided she would be happier living as a boy, and she has gone so far as to legally change her name. I want to be supportive, but I admit I'm having a lot of trouble accepting it, or at least figuring out how to deal with it.
She's my only grandchild and most likely the only one I'll ever ...Read more
Punishment Doesn't Fit Crime After Boy Is Caught With Porn
DEAR ABBY: When I stopped by my brother's house a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned that his 9-year-old son was grounded in his bedroom. He was being punished for snooping in his dad's vintage collection of porn.
At first I was upset with my brother and his wife, because it was their fault that the boy had access to it, and boys are naturally ...Read more
Sunny Personality Turns Dark In The Wake Of A Miscarriage
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I suffered a miscarriage five months ago, in the 12th week. I'm still not doing well. I have put on a facade to get by, but I'm just starting to realize how deeply this is affecting my life.
I used to be a happy, friendly person. Always a smile on my face and laughter to be shared and hugs for my loved ones. Since the ...Read more
Treasured Wedding Arch Is Trashed By Callous Relatives
DEAR ABBY: My daughter got married in a friend's backyard three months ago. Her husband built an arch for the ceremony. He spent $285 on some very nice walnut, and they planned to keep it forever.
With my daughter's consent, my wife loaned it to a niece of hers. The arch was broken and thrown out. We found this out only after weeks of ...Read more
Grateful Mom Honors Life Of Young Son's Benefactor
DEAR ABBY: On Sept. 14, 2017, you printed my letter about my ex-husband borrowing money from my 13-year-old son's piggy bank. Soon after, you reached out to tell me a gentleman (the founder of an organization that helps people who have been wronged) wanted to send my son twice the amount of money that had been taken from him. My son was humbled,...Read more
Story Of Wrongful Conviction Is Shared Without Permission
DEAR ABBY: I'm a gay man in my late 40s, partnered with a man in his late 50s. There are a lot of issues from my past that I try hard to move beyond and let go of. I was wrongly accused and convicted of a crime I didn't commit, for which I was sentenced to life in prison.
I sat in prison seven years before I was able to prove my innocence and ...Read more
Grandmothers Refuse To Follow Practical Gift-Giving Request
DEAR ABBY: Our 11-year-old has learned to lie, and we feel terrible about it. Because she has a sensory processing disorder, clothes are a useless gift because the seams and fabric are often uncomfortable for her. We have repeatedly asked family and friends not to gift her clothes, but her grandmas are in denial and often do it anyway.
Our ...Read more
Crabby Distant Relative Is An Unwelcome Freeloader
DEAR ABBY: My husband is an amazing guy. We have a very nice life except for an older sort-of family member who is living with us.
Nathan has been living in the house for years, but he isn't a blood relative. He's my husband's late stepfather's brother. Nathan is a several-times-divorced curmudgeon who was living in a shed. He was allowed to ...Read more