ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I recently learned that my spouse had a brief affair with someone else early in our relationship. He was an old lover with whom she had had an affair years before, when he was still married.

When first confronted, her response was to give a long string of excuses denying blame. When asked why she had done this, she said she had ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband has a small family, and his mom is single. My husband and I have two children in elementary school. My husband and I both hope to move to a bigger home in the near future.

My mother-in-law is very nice, and we get along well. She is always willing to help out. She recently retired, and she continues to make comments to ...Read more

Dear Annie: They say it's normal not to forget your first love. Is reaching out to them crossing a line?

Life for me was like a rom-com movie. I grew up as the girl next door in a gorgeous home. I was in love with the boy next door; let's call him "Ryan." We both went to different schools, but we made time to see each other daily. We had a ...Read more

Dear Annie: An acquaintance from my past (1983) contacted me in July 2019 after searching for and finding me on social media. We have been speaking on and off since then, but he now calls me every day (sometimes two times a day) and says he's making travel plans to come see me.

He lives in Canada, and I live in Massachusetts. Back in 1983, he...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently separated from my husband, and we are in the process of a divorce. The relationship was a bit toxic. But it was my choice to leave, and I left for my own mental health, as I struggle with anxiety and depression and self-esteem issues.

I have reconnected with a man I dated a few years ago. He is so sweet, and he has told...Read more

Dear Annie: Is it wrong or unethical to tell a friend that a mutual friend has COVID-19 without securing that individual's permission to discuss their medical status?

I used to be a nurse before I retired 10 years ago, and I know it's considered a breach of patient privacy laws to discuss the health status of those you are treating. But among...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently met someone on a business trip at our company's office in Arizona. I'm located in the Southeast office.

Although we work for the same company, we are not in the same department, so there is no real need for work interaction.

We did seem to hit it off really well during my visit, and I have already reached out with ...Read more

Dear Annie: I had Nordic dogs for many years and loved them dearly, but they do have a trait that might be off-putting to some. Huskies have wonderful two-layer coats that shed, no matter how well they are groomed. The sister referenced in the letter from "Concerned Husband" who doesn't pet the husky mix may just be trying to avoid going home ...Read more

Dear Readers: Happy Mother's Day! Below are some beautiful quotes and tributes written about mothers.

Dear Annie: My mother is the voice of all reason. Any time I am facing a difficult decision, I go straight to her with the confidence of knowing I am getting smart, rational, helpful advice. Her unconditional love and support have given me ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married to my husband for 11 years, together for 16. Let me start by saying I love my husband but am no longer in love with him. Unfortunately, he is a habitual liar. While most of his lies have been inconsequential, others have caused huge issues to the point I often wonder if what he tells me is true.

We had a major ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a 24-year-old man, and I recently moved in with my girlfriend of three years. Since moving in, it seems that the passion she used to have for me is gone physically, though she insists it's due to hormone issues with her medications. I'm no woman, so I can't understand her issues with that or if there even are any.

This lack of...Read more

Dear Annie: I am engaged. I have been for six years (I know, I know), but we actually plan to get married in a few months. I am in love with her, but I just don't know if letting my feelings fall to the wayside is how I want to live the rest of my life. I always feel like she puts the feelings of others before me, like it doesn't matter how I ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been an admin for many years at many different offices, and the admin's office/desk is usually equivalent to a home's kitchen -- the gathering spot.

The problem is, I have a LOT of work to do. My focus is broken a million times a day because people just come up to my desk to hang out and talk. How do I get people to stop ...Read more

Dear Annie: There's a lot that you and your family can do to alleviate anxiety during these stressful times, especially as we face the potential for an expanding war beyond Ukraine. There are new weapons in play now: cyberattacks, the use of economic sanctions and the expansion of warfare into space.

Using my past experience as emergency ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am in my 40s and recently single again after 15 years of marriage. I ended my marriage due to domestic violence.

How much of my situation should I share with potential dates? I don't want to share too much too soon, but I am unsure if this is information I should share. The question of why my marriage ended will inevitably be ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married for over 15 years. I have a high metabolism, while she is considered obese. But she wears it well. After having children via cesarean section, her stomach has no muscles left to hold it together.

To me, she is beautiful, inside and out. I feel that she struggles with her weight and body image but ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband took away all sex and everything that went with it 22 years ago. I hate my wasted life. I divorced him in 2019, but we share a house. Neither of us has kids or relatives close by, so we kind of take care of each other.

I'm at a point where I hate my situation. I basically live in my bedroom and come out only for food, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have an old flame who has been happily married for many years and lives across the country. I would never cross the line, as I have been on that end, and I wish that pain on no one.

How do I get my heart to stop wanting him? I have tried, but out of the blue, I find myself wanting him in my life. How do I let the feelings for ...Read more

Dear Annie: Several years ago, my sister's husband passed away. She was married for over 60 years. They had three children. She made plans to have a memorial service on the weekend. He was to be cremated. My family and I made plans to attend. She lives in another city.

She then changed the date of service, to a town an hour from her home. The...Read more

Dear Annie: Thank you for the wise advice that you give to your readers. I have often taken your advice and applied it to my situation in life. But this is a new issue for me.

A dear friend of mine died a couple of years ago (not of COVID-19). She faced death pragmatically and fearlessly. Having managed the at-home care of her parents when ...Read more