ArcaMax

DEAR ABBY: Fifteen years ago, I "ran away from home" to get away from my adult children, and I finally made a life for myself. They were able to stay in the house because I continued to pay the mortgage. Their dad -- my ex -- and his family all lived nearby.

Now, none of my children wants anything to do with me or my family, and they don't want...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for five years. My husband and I are both past middle age and have been married before (me twice; three times for him). For much of our early marriage, my husband was ill. He required several surgeries and a lot of care. I never complained or felt burdened, yet the smallest ache or pain I have is, apparently, a "...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for close to a year, and in this short time I've seen a side of my wife I've never seen before. Although I met her during a period of sobriety, she drinks now. The problem is what she does when she drinks. On one occasion, she was supposed to go to the market and return on foot. Instead I found her in a car with a ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I would like to respond to "Ready To Bail in New Jersey" (Sept. 1), who was complaining about women being on their phones all the time. Does this man have any idea how much information and communication is shared electronically now? Work emails, school emails, group texts about various kid activities, and even grocery shopping are all...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I left a manipulative and abusive marriage after 18 years. My parents fully supported my decision. When I became engaged to the wonderful man who is now my husband, my mother and many other family members told me that second weddings were "not important" and I should have just gone to the courthouse.

I had a very small wedding. Even ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am in a relationship I can't get out of. I was told by my "boyfriend" that what he's doing is normal. He says it's what people who love each other do, and he loves me more than anyone has ever loved me. I have told him repeatedly that I don't love him.

He drives by my house and follows me to work. He has also watched to make sure I...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a wife and mother in my late 30s. I'm also a registered nurse, beginning a master's degree program to advance my career. I consider myself to be an intelligent person, and I did well in college.

My husband is also intelligent, and I'm proud of his accomplishments in his career. However, he can be arrogant at times, giving the ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband passed away two years ago. I hope you can give me some advice on how to deal with my 53-year-old daughter who never left home. We generally get along well. She does freelance art, but doesn't earn much. She contributes only $30 a month. Also, she has a driving phobia, so she doesn't drive. She expects me to drive her to ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My strongest "love language" is physical touch. For 23 years, my husband gave hugs galore to any and every woman, but never to me. The word "never" is not an exaggeration. He has recently begun to change and try to be better. Now he does hug me as much as I want. But when he hugs other women, it still feels like a knife through my ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a widowed woman who met a gentleman online two years ago. We met in person and get along really great. Everything seems perfect, but my girlfriends keep telling me they see his profile on numerous dating sites. When I asked him about it, he said he had closed the accounts. Well, close friends say they are concerned because he is ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been a widow for six months. My late husband was a physically and verbally abusive alcoholic. I spent numerous nights in the ER waiting to be seen and nursed many black eyes throughout the years. During all those years of abuse, which was witnessed by numerous friends and family, I remained faithful and dedicated to him and our...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I married for the second time two years ago to a younger woman. Seven months after our wedding, she announced she didn't like my dominating personality, which is why she was stepping out of the marriage. She then went back to her deadbeat ex-boyfriend for six months. I went for counseling and have made a major change in how I treat, ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I had a close friend, "Kayleigh," for about 10 years. She helped me through tough times and was always there for me. Now I feel like she has turned into someone else. For the last six months, she has been putting down everyone I love, even in front of my daughter. She sees no problem with it, nor does she have any remorse.

Kayleigh ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My father, who is 84, just had a mild stroke. The problem is he wants to drive his car. My sister says we should just let him, but I don't think he's capable of driving safely anymore. She says we can't legally stop him from driving.

Dad has occasional dizzy spells and double vision, which started the day he had a stroke several ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I read the letter from the woman who is feeling alone at 66 and pondering the purpose of life ("Living Life in Texas," July 25). Assuming she's in good health, she's a spring chicken compared to a 90-year-old. Allow me to offer some suggestions on how she can recapture the spark of wonder and amazement that life's boundless ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been in love with a man for 34 years. I was married to him once, then divorced him because of drugs. I have been remarried for eight years now, to a wonderful man who is good to me, but aloof to my needs or desires. I am not in love with him. When we talked early in the marriage about my needs, he got sullen and said he would "...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My daughter is about to turn 14 and wants to get a job. We just found out that in our state, 14- and 15-year-olds can work if they get a permit. I'm very concerned. I tried negotiating with her by telling her that her dad and I will give her a job at home and pay her, but she insists on working to help with our family finances. I have...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 30-something bisexual man who is in a relationship with a bisexual woman the same age. We both lived different lives and dated a variety of people before we met, but now I am pretty certain she is The One. The issue arises when it comes to how others, particularly my parents and their friends, perceive us.

To us, we are two ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I was taught to write handwritten thank-you notes when I received a gift. Over the last few years, my gifts have been acknowledged with a brief text, Facebook post, a photo or not at all. I enjoy giving gifts, but the lack of response I receive from today's younger folks leaves me feeling frustrated and dismissed. Must I adapt my ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My parents were married for 22 years. They separated in 2007, and by 2008 the divorce was final. While this was a good thing for both of them, the fallout from their marriage was intense. I won't dig into the ugly details, but they both had their faults, and it was rough.

Since the divorce, Dad has moved on. Sadly, he lost his wife ...Read more