ArcaMax

Dear Annie: Every summer, my husband "Jake" and I spend a week at his parents' lake house in Wisconsin. It's a beautiful spot -- right on the water, with pine trees, hummingbirds and a little dock where Jake used to fish as a kid. When we first started dating, I actually looked forward to these trips. I imagined quiet mornings with coffee by ...Read more

Dear Annie: My younger sister and I used to be incredibly close. We talked every day, shared everything and supported each other through some of the hardest times in our lives, including the loss of our mom. But over the past two years, she has pulled away, and I feel like I do not even know her anymore.

It started when she began dating her ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been in a long marriage. In the early years, we had happy times, but things have changed. For a while now, I've been enduring emotional, psychological and verbal abuse from my husband. He often makes humiliating comments about me in front of others. When I try to call him out, he says I'm too sensitive or claims he was just ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have always felt like the odd one out in my family. I love them deeply, but I cannot ignore the quiet, persistent feeling that I do not quite belong. My two younger brothers, "Tom" and "Michael," are close with each other and with our parents, especially our mom. They talk every day, go on trips together and always seem to be in ...Read more

Dear Annie: I might be in love with my sister-in-law. Or to put it more accurately, I think I might be in love with my deceased wife's sister. I'm not sure if we're still truly in-laws anymore.

My wife died in a car accident three years ago. Our son was only 11 months old, so he won't remember his mother. My in-laws (both of her parents) and ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 28 and have been dating my boyfriend, "Marcus," for a little over a year. He's kind, funny, responsible -- and everyone in my life seems to adore him. The problem is, I don't think I'm in love with him.

I've been trying to figure out if it's just a rough patch or if I'm forcing something that's not there. There's no big issue;...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a co-worker, "Jenna," who I also considered a close friend -- until recently. We've worked together for five years, and we used to grab lunch, text outside of work, even double date with our spouses. A few months ago, she got promoted to a management role in our department. I was happy for her -- truly. But since then, ...Read more

Dear Annie: After 45 years of marriage to a man who has no hobbies, no real friends of his own and little interest in life outside of his routine, I'm struggling with a mix of guilt, resentment and sadness.

For decades, I lived under his controlling ways -- so much so that when I finally started doing things for myself, I felt guilty for not ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 40 years old, and my husband is 44. When we first got together, he treated me well, but things changed. Now, whenever I visit him, he drinks heavily and becomes violent. He has beaten me more than once, and I am ashamed to say it has happened many times.

He has also cheated on me. He has four children, and despite everything,...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently agreed to sell our old lounge furniture, since we're in the process of buying a new set. We made the decision together, so I assumed we'd also agree on who it would be sold to.

He later called to say he found a buyer, which I was happy to hear -- until he added a twist. The buyer would be paying in ...Read more

Dear Readers: Today is Father's Day, a day that means something different to each of us. For some, it is a time to fire up the grill, hand Dad a new set of tools and enjoy the kind of quiet, comfortable time that fathers often prefer. For others, it is a bittersweet day, filled with memories, longing or unresolved emotions. Wherever you find ...Read more

Dear Annie: Last year, I married the nicest guy I've ever met. I'm 40 and wish I'd met him sooner, but better late than never. On our month-long honeymoon in Europe, we attended a music festival. During the festival, my husband and I saw some other women in pasties, and in a moment of flirting, I did something totally out of character and ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have two kids under 5, and we both work full-time. As you can imagine, our lives are pretty hectic. My mother-in-law lives about 30 minutes away and expects us to visit her almost every weekend. If we don't, she lays on the guilt pretty thick -- talking about how she "never sees the kids" or implying we don't value...Read more

Dear Annie: A couple I've been friends with for over 20 years is about to celebrate their daughter's high school graduation. I recently received an invitation from the daughter, and while I was touched to be included, I'm feeling a little conflicted.

Over the past few years, the parents -- who were once very close to me -- have gradually ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 63 years old, and I live alone in a quiet little house with my dog, Rosie. I like to sit on the porch in the evenings and watch the sun go down, but lately the silence feels heavier than it used to.

My daughter, who is in her 30s, moved to Texas with her husband about a year ago -- and since then, she hasn't spoken to me. Not ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've had dogs all my adult life, and I've always dreaded the moment they start to slow down. That fear of the inevitable was especially strong after my divorce, when I began living alone with the three dogs my ex-wife insisted I take. One passed away peacefully just three months later, as if to spare me the pain of a final trip to ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for nearly 39 years. He has always had a tendency to put himself first -- even before our sons, and now even our toddler grandson -- but I'm at my wits' end over his latest act of selfishness.

His only sister recently suffered a traumatic fall. She was airlifted to a trauma center with a ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been a longtime reader, and a recent column really resonated with me. I'm a couples coach, and I see this pattern often: people who fear conflict tend to suppress their feelings rather than express them. Over time, that silence turns into resentment, and eventually, things explode -- sometimes irreparably.

In the letter you ...Read more

Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I have been together for eight years. We have an 18-year age gap. I'm 39, and he's 57. We have a strong relationship and have been through hell and back together. God blessed us with our 6-month-old son, "Michael." We have a happy little family.

We also work together. There's been a young co-worker constantly ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been married to my husband, "David," for nine years. We have two kids, ages 7 and 4. Lately, I've been struggling with how much time he spends on his phone. Every night after dinner, instead of helping with bedtime or talking with me, David disappears into the garage or sits on the couch playing online poker. I've brought it ...Read more