ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in my early 30s, and for as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of having kids. My husband, however, is not on the same page -- he's made it clear that he's not ready for children and may never be.

I tried to respect my husband's feelings, but as time passed, my anxiety about waiting grew stronger. Eventually, I decided to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I have been married for 10 years. When we first got together, he was active and in great shape. Over the years, he has gained a significant amount of weight, and his chronic obesity has now become a huge wedge in our relationship. I still love him deeply, but this drastic change in his health has impacted many ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I fear that I may have raised an "iPad child." My daughter is 4 years old, and for over a year now, she's been glued to her iPad. It started out as a way to keep her entertained while I handled other tasks around the house. As a parent, sometimes I just need a moment of quiet, and the iPad seemed like an easy, harmless way to get...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: As a new mom to my precious 3-month-old, I'm experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, from joy to an overwhelming sense of isolation and loneliness. While I adore my baby and cherish these early moments, I can't help but miss my old social life and the freedom I used to enjoy. It feels like my friends have drifted away, caught up in...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I have been arguing a lot all year long, if I am honest. We have had a few screaming matches recently that ended up with me saying it was over unless we could get along better. Miraculously, my husband has been acting nicer -- nothing earth-shattering, but there have been fewer arguments and more pleasantness. ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in a really tough situation with my mom, who has been going through so much lately. She's on dialysis for six hours four times a week, and she has been waiting for a kidney donor for almost a year now. I just returned from Brazil and found out that I'm a match, and I'm willing to donate my kidney to her. My mom is refusing to...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I wanted to offer another option to "Overweight," the woman hurt by her brother's comments about her post-pregnancy weight. Could she not go a step further and ask him to babysit for an hour or two a few times a week, so she can have time to herself, to sleep or cook or exercise? Or could he contribute to a healthy meal delivery ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My partner and I have different political views, and with the election coming up, we've been clashing more often. I'm a strong supporter of Kamala Harris and her policies, while my partner has a different perspective. We've always respected each other's opinions, but lately, our discussions have turned into heated arguments. I ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm the mother of a 16-year-old daughter who loves shopping and frequently goes out with her friends to the mall, the movies and various other places. Up until now, I've always paid for her extra experiences -- whether that's her shopping sprees, lunches or outings with her friends. Financially, I can afford all of these things ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My younger brother, who is only 12, recently came out as gay, and while I fully support him, my parents are struggling to accept it. They keep insisting it's just a phase, and it's heartbreaking to watch. I've tried having conversations with them about being more open-minded, but they seem resistant to the idea. I feel caught ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm feeling uneasy after a recent family dinner celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday. During the gathering, I mentioned that my older sister, his wife, told me she was purposely avoiding losing weight because she doesn't want to get pregnant. I didn't mean to bring it up, but it's clear my brother-in-law really wants to have ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have recently transitioned into a new role that has me working in an open office layout. While I appreciate the collaborative environment and the opportunity to interact with my colleagues, I have been struggling with distractions and noise that make it difficult for me to focus on my tasks effectively. I have tried using noise...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm at a crossroads in my relationship with my boyfriend. We've been together for several years, and for the most part, our relationship has been strong and loving. We've talked about our future together many times, and I've always pictured us getting married, building a life and starting a family. However, a recent conversation ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My in-laws' 55th wedding anniversary is coming up soon, but unfortunately, my father-in-law passed away last year, so this will be my mother-in-law's first anniversary without him. It's been a tough year for her. She misses her husband, and their relationship was the foundation of her life. I know this day is going to be ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I are professional ballerinas, and we've been dancing together since high school. We've been through so much together -- the long rehearsals, the endless auditions, the excitement of landing roles and the disappointments. Ballet has been a huge part of our lives, and we've always shared that passion.

Recently,...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom is about to turn 60, which is a huge milestone, and my dad doesn't seem to be planning anything special for her. She's always been the one who goes above and beyond for everyone else in the family, so my siblings and I thought it would be nice for her to have a relaxing spa day. She absolutely loves going to the spa, and ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: When Sean "P. Diddy" Combs was arrested a few weeks ago, the news showed a video of him beating up a woman on a loop, and it disturbed me so much. What happened to that woman was awful, but there was more, and I couldn't figure it out at first. Then I realized that it was triggering for me: When I was younger, my college ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm afraid my past embarrassing moments will make my boyfriend see me in a different light. I've been dating "Bryan" for two years now, and he is insisting on coming to my hometown to meet my friends, as I have met his. We both live in the city where we work, but I grew up as an overweight kid in a low-income household with ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a 45-year-old man, and I thought I had finally married the love of my life just six months ago. My husband and I share many of the same values, dreams and goals, and I was overjoyed to have found someone I could build a future with. We dated for eight months prior to our marriage, but since getting married, he has started to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm having a hard time controlling my shopping habits. I often find myself buying things on impulse, which leads to regret afterwards. I want to take better care of my money, but breaking the habit of spontaneous spending seems really challenging.

I've tried setting financial goals by using digital spreadsheets, manual logging ...Read more