ArcaMax

Dear Eric: My husband and I have been married for 30-plus years. He's a great guy in most aspects, except for his hygiene. He doesn't brush his teeth enough, he doesn't take enough showers, he doesn't use deodorant.

For some reason he has taken to wearing hoodies even when it's warm out contributing even more to this “smelly” issue. His ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am 71 and have a “boyfriend” who is 79. We have been a couple for more than 10 years however during that time we only saw one another on average once a week for various reasons, such as he is an hour away, we are at different stages in life and we both like our space.

It was a fun relationship with lots of drinking and some ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have a problem with my sister. She’s 71 years old and for the past two years she has had several medical issues. One in particular is very debilitating and makes it very difficult for her to walk.

She has not been to a doctor for at least 10 years and even though she doesn’t feel well, she refuses to see a doctor because she is...Read more

Dear Eric: I am the older partner in a gay relationship. We have a mutual friend (John) who we have invited to our home four times for a swim and dinner. He has never invited us to his home to reciprocate for dinner, has never brought a bottle of wine or any gift of appreciation, has never sent us a thank you note or email, and never brings a ...Read more

CHICAGO -- Mary Kate Reilly’s after-work routine is familiar and comforting. Her 50-minute commute ends at her childhood home in Tinley Park, Illinois, where her mom is waiting when she walks in; she shares a meal and relaxes with her parents afterward as they watch reality TV.

It’s a living situation the 23-year-old did not exactly ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband and I have had many wonderful trips with my parents over the years. We have always invited them on our family vacations with the kids and had a, generally, wonderful time.

They are both in their 80s. I’m grateful that they are still a big part of our lives and are both able to travel, but we have noticed significant ...Read more

Dear Anna,

My girlfriend and I recently celebrated our second anniversary. I tried to make it special. I surprised her by booking a little cabin upstate she’d been eyeing for months, planned the whole weekend and cooked her favorite meal from scratch the first night. It wasn’t cheap, but I wanted to do it.

A few days later, she told me I �...Read more

A major dating philosophy of mine is, “You have to hold yourself to the same standard as the person you’re looking for.”

I was working with a client a few years ago—nice guy in his early 40s—and at one of our meetings, he expressed to me what he was looking for in a woman. He mentioned certain physical features, a desired age range ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Elysia Baskins and Christopher Johnson did not intend to raise a child together.

They instantly got along when they first met on Bumble in 2022; they both loved anime and eating Japanese food. But after their first date, Baskins didn’t feel the romantic chemistry, so they became best friends instead.

In 2025, Baskins got ...Read more

Dear Eric: I’m writing to ask if you have any insight as to what is going on with my mother. She is 95 years old and still physically capable, although after she broke her hip and had surgery to repair it last December she uses a walker.

She still reads, does crossword puzzles, and plays bridge and Scrabble.

The issue is that she has ...Read more

Dear Eric: My friend, “Jac” had a very public “meltdown” and was ordered to inpatient rehabilitation for his 20-year-long drug addiction. One year after his treatment, he has not changed and continues to hurt others and blame others for his many shortcomings. This is called being a “dry drunk,” when a sober person still behaves like ...Read more