ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who has invited me to attend a Juneteenth event at our local museum. We often do cultural things together, so I'm down for going, but I feel uncomfortable because I have no idea what Juneteenth actually is. My hometown didn't celebrate this when I was growing up. Can you fill me in? -- Understanding History

DEAR ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend is celebrating her son's first birthday soon! We are all excited to be there for him, but it seems like my friend left a few people off of her guest list -- my mom being one of those people. We have been best friends since we were 13. Our parents are close, and my mom is always there to support her for special occasions...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister is trying to become a content creator. While I want to support her dreams, it's starting to take a toll on our relationship. Every time we spend time together, whether it's getting coffee, going on a walk or just hanging out at home, it somehow turns into a content production day. She's constantly filming, taking ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a family member who is dying. She is a grumpy woman, and everybody in my family is tired of dealing with her. Same goes for the people in the assisted living facility where she lives. They tolerate her, but they don't do anything extra because she complains constantly. She has always been grumpy, talking down to people and...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My partner and I have been together for a while now, and I truly care about him. He's kind and stable, and we have a strong connection. The only issue is that we're at different stages in our lives. He's five years older than me and is ready to settle down. He talks about marriage, buying a home and planning for the future in ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Over Memorial Day weekend, I hosted a small get-together at my home with my extended family. My cousin brought her 1-year-old son, who's just starting to walk and explore the world around him. He's a sweet little boy and was especially fascinated by my dog. The problem is that my dog has never been great around small children. He...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband wants to have a baby; I do not. Now, you're probably thinking that we should've discussed this before we got married, but I don't think either of us had a hard stance on the subject back then. My husband has two beautiful stepdaughters from a previous relationship, and when he and I were dating, I spent a lot of time ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I helped my friend "Erica" get hired at my company. I usually do not like recommending people I know to work with me, but the job market has been tough, so I didn't mind. Erica was hired, and unfortunately she has not been performing well. She is about six months in now, and recently the hiring manager asked if I might speak with...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I broke up with my boyfriend two months ago. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately I felt it was the right one for both of us. Since the breakup, we hadn't spoken at all -- no texts, no calls, no accidental run-ins.

I had started to move on and was focusing on myself, trying to heal and rebuild my sense of peace. Then, out...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister has been living with me for the past 12 years -- ever since she and her husband separated. At first, we were angry with him for how he treated her, but after living with her, my thoughts have changed. I've tried to correct her bad habits and set boundaries to keep my family comfortable, but she doesn't respect me or my ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm going through a bit of a rough patch in my career. I'm still searching for what's next, but it feels like everyone around me keeps receiving new opportunities. The other day I worked alongside one of my friends, and she shared with me that she had gotten a new job with an amazing brand that we both know and love. I was so ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm really struggling with a situation involving my toddler. She's normally sweet and affectionate at home, but lately, her day care provider has told me she's been trying to hit other children during playtime. This behavior has become more frequent, and I'm starting to get concerned -- not just about the other kids, but about ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My eldest daughter is in a relationship with someone who is nearly twice her age. My daughter is 23, so when she shared the news with me that she was dating someone seriously, I was happy for her. She lives with me, so I'd see flowers being delivered and hear long-winded phone calls. She told me that things were serious between ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Is it OK to be selective about where or when I spend time with certain friends? Or does that make me shallow? One of my best friends is loud and often asks invasive questions. She likes being in the limelight, so she draws attention to our group by joking incessantly or interjecting in conversations. I love her because she is ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Now that my siblings and I are "orphans" -- both of our parents have died -- we have only one another left. This is proving to be challenging. All of our old childhood behaviors are coming back, and I feel stuck in the past. My older sister is really pushing my buttons, and I am finding it difficult to interact well with her ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently broke my foot, and as a result, I'm now in a walking boot and on crutches for the next two to three months. It's been a major adjustment; everything from getting dressed to running errands has become a challenge.

I live alone in a major city where I rely heavily on public transportation, which has made things even ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: How do I stop settling for emotionally unavailable people just because I'm afraid of being alone? I've noticed a pattern in my dating life. All the men I go out with seem to have a few things in common: They refuse to commit, they're always "too busy" and they rarely put in the effort to truly get to know me or make me feel ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister-in-law "Kate" worked for me for several years. Last summer, she had a baby and said she'd return to work immediately after maternity leave. The week before she was to come back to work, I emailed her the upcoming work schedule. Kate informed me that she wouldn't be returning. I wanted to send back a scathing email, but ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom's friend is on the hunt for a nice wife for his son and thinks I'd be a great fit. This matchmaker is an older man I know from church, but I've never met his son before. My mom asked if I'd be open to hanging out with him and his family just to meet the son and see how I feel. I thought it would be awkward to say no and ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister "Ruth" and I were both supposed to help a friend settle into her new home, but Ruth backed out after getting a last-minute invite to brunch. Our plans to help our friend had been scheduled long in advance. Ruth's SUV was packed with furniture and other items that we were expected to bring over, so she asked if she could...Read more