Life Advice
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Sour Over Son's Mother-in-Law
Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 42 years, and he has always had strong likes and dislikes. Four years ago, we moved closer to our son's family. Until recently, I didn't realize how much he dislikes our son's mother-in-law (she lives nearby the family also).
This past year, he has refused to attend holiday functions if MIL ...Read more

Ask Amy: Vacation times are affected by interlopers
Dear Amy: Like a lot of people these days, my adult children and many of my friends are spread out all over the country. I try to stay in touch with them by making short trips to visit them.
These trips are usually four or five days (two days of which are travel days) and include the expenses of airfare, accommodations, entertainment, pet ...Read more
Annie's Mailbox: Young but Learning
Dear Annie: I'm a 20-year-old woman in love with a 25-year-old divorced man who has a 4-year-old son, "Mikey."
Lately, Mikey's mother has been letting us have the child more often because she has to go out of state on business. The problem is, this boy is very stubborn. He's not a bad child. He just doesn't like to listen. And for the most part...Read more
Is Not Splitting the Pot Stirring the Pot?
Dear Annie: My younger brother "Chris" moved away and got married. He and his wife, "Julie," have a baby girl and two golden retrievers. They recently came to visit for a week, and they brought their dogs. My mom lives with me, and she already has three dogs. My brother's dogs are a total pain. I wish Chris had hired a dog sitter and left the ...Read more

Ask Amy: A new diagnosis inspires important questions
Dear Amy: I am a 45-year-old woman who was just diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.
I never suspected I might be autistic until last year, when a friend discovered that she was autistic and sent me some articles about the non-stereotypical ways autism can present itself in women.
After going through the professional evaluation process ...Read more
Annie's Mailbox: Where's My Mother?
Dear Annie: My brother was divorced more than a year ago. Of course, it was extremely difficult for his family, but slowly, life is moving forward.
My mother is the one who is not getting over it. In the past year, she has grown into one of the most bitter people I know. She used to be fun, positive and easygoing. Now she detests her former ...Read more
Stuck in a Downward Spiral With Long-Term Girlfriend
Dear Annie: My girlfriend and I have been in a relationship for 12 years now. We have a lot of history. I'm 54 and she is 55 now. We were best friends for a year in high school and we had a few incidents when we kissed back in the day. I left home for the Air Force in 1988. We kept in contact here and there. We both have been married. She had ...Read more

Ask Amy: Aunt wants to step in where Dad won’t tread
Dear Amy: My brother has been married twice.
He and his first wife had two children. During the divorce, he tried to gain custody of the children, but she was awarded custody, and he stayed in contact with his two children for a while. But then things turned for the worst when she accused my brother of child abuse. She also physically ...Read more
Annie's Mailbox: Crazy in Kansas
Dear Annie: I am a 57-year-old man with no siblings, and my mother is deceased. My 82-year-old father is physically healthy, but he's in the early stages of dementia. He has a few hobbies to keep him busy, but for some reason, he has become obsessed with me.
Dad has become rather "needy." Sometimes he calls me three or four times a day, even ...Read more
Single File: Burger King Beau
DEAR SUSAN: I have sexual feelings for my boyfriend, but it's usually when we're apart. I get that rush of lovey feelings when I'm at work or driving to the store; I think of him and how he makes me feel good about myself. More than that, I love that he complements me so well. Still, as soon as I see him in person, all I need is a hug or a quick...Read more

Erika Ettin: If someone says they can't or won't do something, listen
A client recently reached out to me to ask for advice on a dating situation. (It’s my job!) After a “great” first date, the man told my client he’d be interested in connecting again but noted that he was looking for “something casual” because he was recently divorced. She said that despite looking for a long-term relationship, she ...Read more
Porn Addiction Disrupts My Marriage
Dear Annie: I am writing about an issue that I believe is affecting many couples now. The issue is pornography.
My husband and I have been married for 25 years, and we had a happy marriage while raising our three children. They all turned out to be good, responsible adults. We bought a house together, went on vacations and really lived a ...Read more

Ask Amy: Siblings Zoom away from family meetings
Dear Amy: I'm the youngest of three siblings. My two brothers live a couple of states away from our parents, who are in their 80s. I live the farthest away, on the opposite coast.
At the beginning of the pandemic, like most families, we connected on Zoom. There were tech hurdles for my parents, but they navigated them as best they could.
A ...Read more
Annie's Mailbox: Worried for Them
Dear Annie: My husband and I have a blended family with his two girls and my three sons. I am so grateful that we both took on this challenge.
We had some good times, and we had some bad times, and when I say bad, I mean horrible. Our children are all adults now, and we are still butting heads over them, mostly my boys. He has given up on two ...Read more
Enabling Adult Addicts Must Stop
Dear Annie: As a 31-year-old female who is a sober alcoholic, I'd like to offer my advice to parents of alcoholics who put their foot down by telling their grown "children" to either stop drinking and using or leave the house. Good for you!
I don't actively work in a traditional recovery program, but I go to therapy and take medications to ...Read more

Ask Amy: Family wants to avoid in-laws’ drinking
Dear Amy: My husband and I have been married for 19 years.
His brother is an alcoholic, which is a common theme in his family.
He has been unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions.
At a family event (about six years ago), he made sexual advances toward me.
I told my husband that his brother makes me very uncomfortable and I do not want ...Read more
Annie's Mailbox: Wanting No Regrets
Dear Annie: I'm in my 40s and have been married for 20 years. We have two children. Our marriage has been OK but not totally fulfilling. For the past five years, I have been in contact with my ex-fiancee.
I have thought about getting divorced a number of times but have never gone through with it. I love my wife, but not the same way I love my ...Read more
Son Excluded From Family Easter Plans
Dear Annie: My spouse and I live close to many members of our extended family. We were out of town for Easter. My adult son saw on Facebook that the rest of the family had gathered to celebrate, but he had not been invited. This has happened more than once. My son feels pretty bad about it and wonders why he wasn't included.
I don't know if ...Read more

Ask Amy: New mom is frustrated by her old mom
Dear Amy: My mom and I have had a bumpy relationship ever since my parents got divorced about 10 years ago.
Instead of finding healthy ways to cope, my mother blamed me (and my brother) for her unhappiness during a time when we were trying to get on our feet as adults.
We slowly worked things out and talk by phone a couple of times a week.
I ...Read more
Annie's Mailbox: Loved the Show, Disliked the Seat
Dear Annie: Recently, my wife and I stayed for four days at the home of one of her school chums. The gals yakked until late at night, so I was the first one up every morning. I'm an early riser anyway.
I like reading the newspaper with my breakfast, so when I'd get up, I'd go outside and pick up the paper and bring it in. My wife says it was ...Read more
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