Life Advice
/Health
Woman's Poor Choices Impact Health Of Aging Mother
DEAR ABBY: I am a healthy older woman living alone in a building for seniors. I've known some of my neighbors most of my life. I consider us like a family.
My problem is, my 49-year-old daughter, "Jasmine," has been a pill addict for the last 20 years. I've tried repeatedly to help her. I've begged to get her to go to counseling, but she won't....Read more
Man's Need For Speed Makes Wife Want To Hit The Brakes
DEAR ABBY: My husband is an adrenaline junkie who loves high speeds and fast cars. I am the opposite. I hate riding in fast cars, on roller coasters or anything adrenaline-related. I have explained to him many times that I don't enjoy going fast in his super-fast car, yet he keeps asking me to go with him. I'll do it sometimes, but I hate it. If...Read more
Close Relationship With Stepdad Makes Spouse Uncomfortable
DEAR ABBY: My mom and stepdad ("Hugh") are divorcing after 20 years of marriage. Mom has been involved with scammers for the last two years, giving away money and her Social Security number. I no longer talk to her because of this. She actually expected me to drive her places to meet these men and lend them her money!
My stepdad and I started ...Read more
Son's Public Outburst Sparks Bitter Feud With Father
DEAR ABBY: My wife of 47 years passed away 16 months ago after living with a disability for many years. I took care of her until the end and loved her with all my heart. Nine months after her passing, I became involved with another woman my age.
I have two sons, 43 and 46. My younger son and my contemporaries are happy that I have found someone...Read more
Husband's New Boyfriend Leaves Wife Fearing For Marriage
DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Leon," and I have been together for 13 years. He is bisexual -- gay-leaning. I knew this when we got together. I am 51, and Leon is 32. We still love each other deeply, but he is also in a relationship with a man. His boyfriend is 21. We have an 11-year-old daughter together, and I have two grown kids from a previous ...Read more
Car Alarm Repeatedly Wakes Up Sleeping Neighbors
DEAR ABBY: I'm fortunate that most of my neighbors are kind and considerate. We've all enjoyed sharing each other's celebrations. However, there's one family among the five households that we've never managed to connect with on a personal level. Despite our efforts, such as giving gifts and food, they have always been unresponsive. While there's...Read more
Dad Is Worried For Daughter On The Verge Of Adulthood
DEAR ABBY: I am a single parent of two girls. My oldest, "Becca," is 17. She has been dating this guy and, as soon as she graduates, plans to move in with him and two of his friends (another couple). What worries me is that their relationship is pretty toxic. They are always fighting. I have begged her not to move in with him, but she won't ...Read more
Mother-In-Law Has Been Couple's Roommate For 14 Years
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been happily married for 15 years. My mother-in-law, "Pat," a widow since 1997, has lived with us for the last 14 years. She lived alone in her own apartment when my wife and I first were married but was going through bouts of depression. I initially extended the offer to her to live with us until she got through ...Read more
Alcoholic Wants To Be In The Room For Grandchild's Birth
DEAR ABBY: I am an adult child of an alcoholic. My mother is a mean drunk. While growing up, I had to act as her therapist and deal with her co-dependency. I have been lucky to have processed a lot of the trauma in therapy and to have a loving and healthy family of my own now. We actively avoid Mom after 3 p.m. because I don't want my kids ...Read more
Man's Delusions Put Brother In A Difficult Spot
DEAR ABBY: My younger brother, "Paul," is 40 and in a rut. He became friends with a friend of mine, "Mitch," whom I met in college. Paul also became good friends with Mitch's wife, "Iris." After a year of close friendship, my brother made a pass at Mitch's wife during a BBQ. He was promptly asked to leave, and they have ceased contact with him. ...Read more
Friendship With Co-Worker Fades As Aspirations Diverge
DEAR ABBY: I had a close friendship with a co-worker. We used to have lunch together and shared many personal and intimate stories. We were the two work newbies, even though I started six months before he did.
He has adapted well in the work environment, but I'm still struggling with different personalities and communication styles. Because he'...Read more
Two Decades Have Not Healed Painful Breach In Relationship
DEAR ABBY: Twenty years ago, I developed psychosis with a personality change. I did things I'm ashamed of. I had an affair, remarried and moved out of the country, leaving my 13-year-old daughter with my ex-husband. I snapped out of it 15 years ago with the help of a good psychiatrist and excellent medication. I deeply regret my behavior, and I ...Read more
Woman's Surprise Revelation Is Bewildering To Relative
DEAR ABBY: I received a Facebook message from my first cousin. In it, she apologized for not communicating for the past 10 months. It ended with, "Send me your address so I can send you a birth announcement." Abby, I wasn't even aware that she had been pregnant.
I contacted her father, who said the child was born two months ago. This cousin is ...Read more
Time At Shared Vacation Home Is The Opposite Of Relaxing
DEAR ABBY: We share a vacation home with another family. My husband and I are neat people. The other family is the opposite. They leave dirty dishes in the sink for days, promising, "I'll get to them." Dirty diapers are left on the living room floor as well as toys, clothes and stale food. It's disgusting.
My husband and I clean up after them, ...Read more
Staying Strong After Breakup Is An Intimidating Process
DEAR ABBY: I was dating a man for the past two years. Most of the time, we enjoyed being together. However, sometimes our discussions would turn into heated and hurtful arguments. He would disregard my point of view, ultimately shut me down and make me feel like the disagreement was my fault.
After our most recent argument, I finally decided to...Read more
Friend Misuses Fundraiser To Bankroll Expensive Tastes
DEAR ABBY: A close friend -- whom I've been urging for years to save for a rainy day -- is now facing a very real storm. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing treatment. Knowing her financial situation -- living paycheck to paycheck despite her and her husband's high-paying jobs -- I felt compelled to help by setting up a ...Read more
Man's Long Friendship With Woman Still Upsets Wife Of 24 Years
DEAR ABBY: My husband has a female friend he grew up with. They have exchanged "happy birthday" texts for many years. However, they have recently begun texting more often. An example: One night he was mixing a drink and texted her about whether to use Pepsi or Coke.
On his birthday, I watched for her text and saw it had two heart emojis on ...Read more
Old Friend Has Worn Out Her Welcome With Imposing Visits
DEAR ABBY: I have an old friend who lives an hour from me. I visit her for the day and come home. I have never invited her to spend the night at my home, nor do I expect her to invite me for a sleepover when I drive down to see her.
The last two times she has visited me, she has arrived at 9 a.m. I assumed she came early because she wanted to ...Read more

Friendship Crumbles When Truth Emerges About Visitor
DEAR ABBY: My friend of eight years has her 55-year-old son living with her. She has been driving a man around who she told me is a friend of her son's and she knows his family. What she never mentioned is that he's a registered violent sex offender who was just released from prison.
She knows how I feel about this issue. Sex offenders are not ...Read more
Sister Ready To Confront Late Brother's Abusive Wife
DEAR ABBY: My brother died of cancer a year ago. During his entire 50-year marriage, I felt bad about the way his wife treated him. She snapped at him and bit his head off from the time they were first married until his death, even while he was dying. Never once did I hear him speak harshly in return.
I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want ...Read more