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Wife's Veganism Has Become A Third Party In Marriage

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been teachers since 1999. We married in 2011. She became vegan in 2017. It helped her beat diabetes, which I love. However, she's pure vegan for animal rights and listens to vegan podcasts all day long after teaching and on the weekends. I mean all day, EVERY day with earbuds in. I have to say, "Knock, Knock" to ...Read more

Parent Concerned By School's Religious Teachings

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son's teacher is teaching doctrinal errors related to my religion, despite the school's claim of being nonsectarian. This discrepancy has raised concerns for me as a parent, as I value the importance of accurate and respectful education, particularly when it comes to matters of faith and belief. I am torn between wanting to ...Read more

Good Ol' Boy Needs To Stop Calling Employees 'girls'

Life Advice / Miss Manners /

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a 50-year-old man who works in a field where the majority of staff are women. I am in management and find myself referring to staff as "girls" in conversations with peers and leadership above me.

I realize the term is not appropriate, and is in fact demeaning to the hardworking staff in our organization. Once I catch ...Read more

Husband's Hypochondria Getting Out of Hand

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My husband is a hypochondriac. It is so very hard living with him. Every time he hears of someone in our family coming down with an illness, he claims he has it. He is a healthy man and perfectly able-bodied. I get disgusted when he takes a handicapped spot next to a store when I know he doesn't need it.

During the height of the ...Read more

Ask Amy: Online meeting might lead to a trap

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: I recently met a nice older man online.

After a few emails and phone calls, “Rob” and I went on several dates.

Despite the difference in our ages (I'm 30, and he's closer to 60), we have many common interests and enjoy spending time together.

Romantically, he is quite shy. So far, just hand holding on walks and a goodnight kiss...Read more

Once-Supportive Wife Becomes Abusive Drinker

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 28 years. Last year I was diagnosed with cancer. It was discovered because of a seizure I had at work. They put me in an ambulance, took me to the hospital and did a CT scan, which revealed my stage-4 cancer. Prior to this, my wife didn't work, while I had a well-paying job. This instantly reversed for obvious ...Read more

Single File: Looking All Ways

Life Advice / Single File /

Today's "Single File" column could be headlined "Looking Back, "Looking Ahead" or "Looking Within." Since "Single File" has been printed for over 40 years, all three apply. Because the column is inextricably bound to the lives of the unmarried in this country, this columnist sees its past, present and future as being tightly linked to them. As ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

The secret sauce of text convos: playful reciprocity

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

Do you often find yourself stuck in an endless loop of lackluster text chains with potential matches?

It’s a common dating app woe, but thankfully, it’s one that you have the power to turn around to work in your favor. Whether you like texting or not, it’s an integral part of modern-day courtship. The sooner you accept that and engage ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Ask Anna: Is it time to break up? Understanding unrequited love in relationships

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

Dear Anna,

For the past four months, I've been seeing someone wonderful. They are kind, thoughtful and truly everything one could ask for in a partner. However, despite their undeniable goodness and the time we've spent together, I've come to the harsh realization that I'm not in love with them. I love them as a person, but not in the grand ...Read more

Bride-To-Be Has Hesitations As Wedding Draws Near

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: As my wedding day approaches, I find myself filled with doubt and uncertainty about marrying my long-time boyfriend. Despite our history together, I am overwhelmed by a sense of hesitation and questioning whether proceeding with the marriage is the right decision. These feelings of doubt have intensified as the big day draws near...Read more

Time To Invite The Next Friend On Your List

Life Advice / Miss Manners /

DEAR MISS MANNERS: If I invite someone to join me for an event via text or email, and they haven't responded, how long should I wait before inviting someone else? Sending a casual invite with a deadline doesn't seem very personable. If I move on to another person, should I let the first choice know? If so, how can I phrase it without sounding ...Read more

A Note to Caregivers

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Readers: A recent column about the caregiver who felt worn out prompted a deluge of letters, mostly from others who are, or have been, caregivers themselves. As I read the letters, I thought of the fact that airlines tell mothers to put on their own oxygen masks first and then help their children. Here is a sampling of the letters we ...Read more

Ask Amy: Granddad is tired of constant video calls

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: My stepson and his wife and 3-year-old daughter live in Hawaii.

My wife and I are on the West Coast.

We visit them several times a year, and they visit over the Christmas holidays when they can.

The times we spend together are always warm and drama-free.

We're on good terms, and I adore them.

My one issue is our daughter-in-law. ...Read more

Bride-To-Be Walks A Fine Line For Her Bridesmaids

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: I recently started planning my wedding. Half the friends I want as bridesmaids are very conservative. They think sex is sacred and should be talked about only discreetly, not joked about, mentioned on TV, etc. I used to hold similar views, but I no longer do. Neither do the other half of the girls I want as bridesmaids.

My dream ...Read more

Empty-Nester Looking For New Ways To Fill Time

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in my late 50s, and all my children are in college or have recently graduated. My life used to be a balancing act of taking care of my children and working. Now that my three children are all gone, I have a lot of free time. I'm at a loss because my entire identity seems to be consumed by the role of a mother, and I have no ...Read more

Cosmetics Compliments Not Meant To Insult

Life Advice / Miss Manners /

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have noticed a trend about how women compliment each other that I find really insulting.

I have had people say to me, "You're pretty" or "You have nice skin." I thank them and forget about it. However, a few times, I have had women say to me, "Your makeup is so pretty," or "Wow, you really know how to apply makeup well."

I...Read more

Husband Lacks Experience Parenting Autistic Daughter

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My daughter is 8 years old and was recently diagnosed with autism. She was just diagnosed at age 7, but I have suspected she is autistic since about age 3 when she used to be severely speech-delayed. Over the years, I had suggested she was autistic to my husband several times, and his responses were things like, "She's just a ...Read more

Ask Amy: Parents differ about sex happening in the house

Life Advice / Ask Amy /

Dear Amy: My wife and I have a difference of opinion regarding our 20-year-old daughter. We would love your perspective.

Our daughter is a sophomore at a university in Europe, and has recently started dating another sophomore (male) student.

When she comes home for the summer, he plans to visit.

In conversations with my wife, I have indicated...Read more

Freeloading Boyfriend Makes Woman Feel Like A Bad Person

Life Advice / Dear Abby /

DEAR ABBY: I've been with the same guy for almost five years. I was madly in love with him the first three years, but after I had my daughter, things slowly changed. We haven't been intimate in a while. I had some female issues I wanted to take care of, plus I'm not physically attracted to him anymore. He makes little comments about it to make ...Read more

Study-Abroad Student Feels Guilty For Not Missing Home

Life Advice / Sense & Sensitivity /

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 20-year-old student who recently relocated temporarily to Europe. I have been living here for two months, and I love it. I have recently been feeling guilty because I have done a poor job of keeping in touch with my family. I was raised to be extremely independent, so I don't often rely on my parents or older sisters for ...Read more