ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I just wanted to say thank you for keeping an open mind.

I've noticed that, on different occasions, readers sometimes challenge you or want to "add to" some of your answers based on their education or personal experiences.

You are willing to keep an open mind and welcome the input. For that, I say, BRAVO!

Of course, not all of the...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a very dear friend who is like family. I am 20 years older than she is, and at times I feel more like a surrogate mother than a big sister.

I know she has mental health problems, including anger management, trust issues, obsessive-compulsive disorder and, at times, I think, narcissistic tendencies. But she truly is a good ...Read more

Dear Annie: I just finished reading the letter from "Caged Bird," and my heart broke for her. The reason is because I lived that same life, and her letter could have been my own.

What was done to her by her mother and to me by my mother were not the products of "motherly love" or "misguided motherly concern." These were the actions of a ...Read more

Dear Readers: Before the start of 2022, I asked you all to send me your goals and resolutions for the new year. These are some of my favorite reader submissions:

-- To pull up my bootstraps and address those who have been disrespectful toward me. Physical violence leaves visible scars. Verbal and emotional violence don't.

-- I decided to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I spent my early childhood years with a loving foster family, and today, at age 75, I have a great relationship with my foster brother.

I lived with my biological family from age 7 until I left for college. I have one biological brother, and long story short, we are not close.

Today, I can hardly stand him or his family. He brags...Read more

Dear Annie: I had a high school boyfriend 47 years ago but left him. He came to my house the day before I was marrying someone else and begged me not to marry him, but I did. Long story short, after getting divorced, I tried to find him, but I couldn't. I married again and got divorced again. I then focused on trying to find him again only to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for more than 24 years, and we have three wonderful daughters. My husband has always been a wonderful father and an OK husband.

However, he has always treated me with a lot of disrespect, and over the years, I always brushed it off because he was such a great dad to my daughters and because he provided ...Read more

Dear Annie: "Numb and Lost" wrote to you regarding emotional detachment as a result of trauma and challenges in their life and struggles with finding proper therapy. As a 37-year-old male who has had difficulties and consequent challenges in therapy, I can relate.

In many ways, finding good therapy is its own battle, on top of the battle ...Read more

Dear Readers: Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! In honor of this great man, I have attached some of the best excerpts from his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The words today still ring true -- that we should be drinking from the cup of truth, love and kindness, and not the cup of hatred and division.

"I say to you today, my friends, even ...Read more

Dear Annie: My relationship with my in-laws is a bit strange. I have three children, and my husband's parents have never shown love or that they care for them, or for my husband and me, for that matter. It breaks my heart that my children do not have a relationship with them, as they are their only grandparents.

When I visit their home, they ...Read more

Dear Annie: Without trying to sound arrogant, I am smarter than the average bear. Not quite a genius but certainly up there. I won all kinds of academic awards in school and hold three degrees.

But my problem is this: I am now 48, the mother of two children with special needs. I have spent most of my life being their caregiver (for which I do ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a published author and have been struggling to write my next book. I've written a handful of adult-oriented fictional books. My most recent published book came out almost five years ago. I've tried several times to start the next book, but I haven't been able to get any thoughts together or gather any momentum in the writing ...Read more

Dear Annie: Recently, a friend confronted me about something that I didn't think was a big deal: Sometimes I forget to respond to texts for a while, and then I reply and say that I just saw the message. Technically, most of the time, it's a lie; I did see the message, and I just got sidetracked or zoned out or didn't feel like replying until ...Read more

Dear Annie: When I was 10, I began asking for a phone. Every kid in my class had one, and I was being left out and bullied because I was the only kid without one. Now, three years later, I finally have a phone!

But my mom has restricted my access to it; I can use my phone only when she says so. I'm not allowed to text my friends -- even though ...Read more

Dear Annie: I used to write every day -- mostly poems but also essays. I really want to get back into it, but my motivation has waned. When I used to write every day, I was deeply depressed, and writing was an outlet, a stress reliever. I still want to write, but I never seem able to get myself to actually put pen to paper. I don't want to ...Read more

Dear Annie: My twin sister and brother-in-law visited me for the recent holiday. I love my sister, and we have always gotten along well. As is stereotypical with twins, we grew up inseparable and have remained emotionally close, even as the physical distance between us widens. We now only see each other a few times a year, and I cherish these ...Read more

Dear Annie: Politics took over as the main topic at our holiday dinner. I don't mind open debate among parties with differing views, as long as those debating have logical and fact-supported positions. Our dinner usually goes smoothly, as everyone gets along and, despite differing opinions, we all can adequately defend our positions. Dinner will...Read more

Dear Annie: Hope you can give us some sage advice! My daughter is married to a man who has many good qualities but is very controlling. He knows everything and always must have things his way as well as the last word. When we are all together, he dominates the conversation when we are eager to hear from his wife who we all miss and love.

My ...Read more

Dear Annie: Our son has been married to a lovely girl for over 20 years. She is a daughter-in-law everyone should have. She cares for us; she keeps a gracious home; she is a good mother.

My problem is with her mother. We see them two or three times a year. Her mother will get me alone and start to share things about our son and his wife that we...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been friends with this couple for over 10 years. We met when our kids were in grade school. We would get together with this couple regularly over the years for dinner and drinks, while the kids would stay at home.

When we go out, we would always split the bill 50/50. Fast-forward to today, their kids are always ...Read more