ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I have been with my boyfriend "Scott" for almost 11 years. We have been together since high school. We had a baby when we were young, and I've worked since I was of legal age to do so, only taking a break for maternity leave. Scott didn't start working until our daughter was 2. He worked for a small company where he ran his own ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'd like to offer an alternative perspective on your advice to "Trying To Heal," who is finding it hard to forgive her abusive mother. I would argue quite strongly, and from experience, that forgiveness isn't necessary to healing. Trying To Heal is under absolutely zero obligation to forgive her mother, and she can still heal ...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently got married to the father of my youngest child, and so far, nothing is going as planned.

Some background: When we discovered I miraculously got pregnant with my third child (his first), he wanted me to quit my job and be a stay-at-home mom.

I didn't like the idea, and I kept my foot down until she was a few months old. ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband comes from a large blended family. His mom is married to a man he has known as his stepdad for his entire life.

Recently, our teenage daughter revealed that she's uncomfortable around this stepdad because he gropes her inappropriately while hugging and greeting her. My husband mentioned this to his mother and stepdad and ...Read more

Dear Annie: With an estimated 2.5 million couples planning on getting married this year, how can those of us who have successfully navigated marriage over the years help these couples succeed once the honeymoon phase begins to wane?

The internet and social media are filled with marital doom and gloom, and even the relationship counselors ...Read more

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