ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I are experiencing a rough patch. At least, that's what I thought it was. I am going through an extremely important moment in my career and education, and it feels like my husband hasn't been supportive. As I was preparing to present my dissertation, he seemed increasingly agitated -- picking small fights about ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We face an awkward situation with my mom. She is chronically unwise with her money, taking frequent international vacations that leave her without enough money for necessary items.

We are not willing to give her the monthly allowance she wants because it would be a hardship to us, and also because if she followed a budget, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a woman in my early 40s, living several states away from the town where I grew up. My relationship with my parents has always been complicated, especially with my mother, and for the last 25 years I have also been estranged from my older sister. She still lives near my parents, while I built my life far away.

The issue comes ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My 32-year-old son has an alcohol problem. He and his wife refuse to accept reality and continue to be social drinkers. My son deals with his problem by putting his head in the sand. He refuses to talk to us or answer any of our texts or calls.

When he does decide to join us for a holiday or other occasion, my son acts like nothing ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friends and I were planning a surprise baby shower for our other friend. I have been the main person planning everything and have been working hard to keep this a surprise. However, I just found out that one of the girls accidentally spilled the beans about it two weeks ago, and no one told me. I am beyond irritated because no...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When did it become de rigueur to wish every woman you see, for an entire week, a happy Mother's Day?

When I was growing up, Mother's Day and Father's Day were days that you did something nice for or with the respective parent. Unless a person was a close friend, you didn't ask "What are you doing for Mother's Day?" out of ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband is a wonderful man in many ways, but lately I feel more like the household manager than his wife. We both work full time, yet somehow I am still the one remembering birthdays, scheduling appointments, keeping track of the groceries, planning family events and noticing when something around the house needs to be done. If ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm 43, and I have been married and divorced three times. I have three adult children and a 13-year-old. My last divorce was final a few weeks ago. I was sure she was The One. Now she now wants to give us nine months and see if we are going to reconcile.

I am confused. Years ago, before I married the first time, I thought I was ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been married for 14 years now. My husband and I have three kids together, and we live in a beautiful home. My friends and family often compliment us on how great we look and how proud they are of us; however, I think he's cheating. When you are with someone for so long, there are certain behaviors and habits that you notice ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband is the president of a local college alumni chapter, and I am the secretary. The chapter recently held an alumni meeting at the residence of the headmaster of a local private high school. Though the setting was a private home, the event was a formal gathering attended by the university president and various ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have read your responses to letters about barking dogs and neighborhood noise, and I appreciate the calm, compassionate way you approach these conflicts. You encourage people to start with empathy, assume good intentions and try to work things out neighbor to neighbor. That sounded wise to us, so we followed that advice exactly. ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for a few months, and we're great together. We have a mutual friend who is married and, in the past, showed interest in my boyfriend. She has asked him not to show me the texts she sends him. We are both concerned about her and her husband, as they are going through marriage counseling.

I have ...Read more

One of my pet peeves is getting a voicemail from someone who just simply asks me to call them back. No topic. No indication if it's urgent, or important, or worst case, urgent and important. Usually, this makes it drop down on my list of priorities, unless curiosity gets the best of me and I do have some time.

I've been debating effective forms...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister-in-law, "Kay," was once one of my closest friends. For more than 25 years, we were there for each other through everything: marriages, divorce, raising children, heartbreak and all the ordinary ups and downs of life. We never had a serious fight, and I truly believed we would always be family in every sense of the word.

...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been together for many years and have raised wonderful children. We have close friends, a beautiful home and, thankfully, our health. She's my best friend, and the light and love of my life. We are, and have always been, happy together.

However, my wife is also a narcissist from a long line of narcissists. There's ...Read more