Dear Abby: My new friends called me family, then vanished without explanation

Dear Abby: My new friends called me family, then vanished without explanation

DEAR ABBY: Four years ago, my cousin “Roy” introduced me to his friends, who, once a month, have a party at the home of one of the couples. We would eat and then play a form of dominoes. It was raucous and fun. The second time I went, a couple in the group told me … Read more

Dear Abby: I’m my families chamber of secrets. Should I open up the gates and reveal all?

Dear Abby: I’m my families chamber of secrets. Should I open up the gates and reveal all?

DEAR ABBY: There are two significant secrets in my family, and as I’m a member of the oldest generation and likely in my last decade, I wonder if they should see the light of day.  The first involves my cousin. He’s a year older than I am and doesn’t know he was adopted. My older … Read more

Dear Abby: I do it all while my wife doesn’t even have a driver’s license and its driving me to drink

Dear Abby: I do it all while my wife doesn’t even have a driver’s license and its driving me to drink

DEAR ABBY: I have been with my wife for 17 years. We have three daughters. She doesn’t work, doesn’t have a driver’s license, doesn’t clean and rarely cooks. I often find myself so frustrated at her lack of commitment to the family that I drink and go to bed after I cook dinner.  I work … Read more

Dear Abby: My cheating ex-husband died — am I wrong for skipping his funeral?

Dear Abby: My cheating ex-husband died — am I wrong for skipping his funeral?

DEAR ABBY: After a nearly 20-year marriage, my first husband, “Lloyd,” told me his feelings for me had changed. He said we needed “some time apart,” but he didn’t want a divorce. He immediately went to a lawyer and executed a financial settlement for me, still insisting he wasn’t going to file for divorce. Six … Read more

Dear Abby: My husband and daughter attack me, and I live in total dysfunction

Dear Abby: My husband and daughter attack me, and I live in total dysfunction

DEAR ABBY: I am living in total dysfunction with my daughter (32) and husband (75). I am retired and going on 76. My daughter will not work and is controlling my life. She has OCD and refuses medication. It’s so bad that she has become completely dependent on me. She makes me drive her and … Read more

Dear Abby: After 31 years of marriage, my wife still isn’t interested in my music

Dear Abby: After 31 years of marriage, my wife still isn’t interested in my music

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married 31 years. We have a great marriage. We work from home, so we spend pretty much every minute together and enjoy each other’s company so much that it isn’t an issue. That said, I will also share that I’m a basement musician. It’s my hobby. I … Read more

Dear Abby: My house is not a convenience store, despite what my neighbor thinks

Dear Abby: My house is not a convenience store, despite what my neighbor thinks

“Overwhelmed in Ohio” seeks advice on dealing with a new, intrusive neighbor constantly asking for items. “In a Dilemma in Pennsylvania” asks how to handle her husband’s brother dating his past one-night stand. A 17-year-old in the West worries about his thumb-sucking habit being exposed in college. DEAR ABBY: I moved into my apartment four … Read more

Dear Abby: My husband’s flirty personality and Facebook addiction have me questioning everything

Dear Abby: My husband’s flirty personality and Facebook addiction have me questioning everything

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married 45 years, but over the last six months, we’ve had numerous fights about Facebook. I’m having issues with his addiction to social media and his constant posts and comments with people I don’t know.  I get jealous about these interactions with women. He has never given … Read more

Dear Abby: I don’t think my marriage will survive my dream road trip

Dear Abby: I don’t think my marriage will survive my dream road trip

DEAR ABBY: I have just retired and want to spend the summer taking a long road trip from Florida to Alaska and back. I’ve dreamed about it all my life and finally have the time and money to do it.  My husband hates long road trips, and I don’t want to take him. He would … Read more

Dear Abby: My brother-in-law cut off the family — but still expects his parents to bankroll his lifestyle

Dear Abby: My brother-in-law cut off the family — but still expects his parents to bankroll his lifestyle

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s brother, “Hank,” has estranged himself from the family. He’s married with two children but has little to no contact with his mom, dad, stepdad, sister, brother (my husband) or any of his nieces and nephews — except when he calls his parents asking for money. On the rare occasions I have … Read more

Dear Abby: My sister believes ‘it’s her way or the highway,’ and I’m tired of it

Dear Abby: My sister believes ‘it’s her way or the highway,’ and I’m tired of it

DEAR ABBY: My unpleasant older sister lives by the creed, “It’s my way or the highway.” As a result, she has no close friends, no husband or partner, no social circle. She was “strongly encouraged” to take early retirement from teaching because she couldn’t get along with her co-workers.  After retirement, she joined a few … Read more

Dear Abby: My late husband’s death reunited me with my first love, but I’m scared

Dear Abby: My late husband’s death reunited me with my first love, but I’m scared

DEAR ABBY: After a four-year battle with cancer, my husband of 27 years passed away. After his death, I was contacted by a guy I had been involved with 40 years before. He said he wanted me to know that he was there for me if I needed to talk or just needed some company. … Read more

Dear Abby: I’m overworked, overwhelmed and have lost faith in my husband

Dear Abby: I’m overworked, overwhelmed and have lost faith in my husband

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 11 years and have two children. When we met, he worked two union jobs, paid his bills, saved his money and took care of his mother and grandmother when they needed his financial support. About six years ago, he decided he didn’t want to work … Read more

Dear Abby: My boyfriend wants a baby, but I want my freedom

Dear Abby: My boyfriend wants a baby, but I want my freedom

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Adam,” and I have been together for four years. We are very much in love and share similar views on most things. We agree that a marriage license is just a piece of paper and our relationship is already a marriage, so we don’t need one.  We have also discussed the … Read more

Dear Abby: My boyfriend is friends with 500 women on TikTok, but none of them are me

Dear Abby: My boyfriend is friends with 500 women on TikTok, but none of them are me

DEAR ABBY: I recently started dating a guy I have known for 30 years. He has moved in and asked me to marry him. Our relationship is perfect except for anything having to do with social media. He has an account on TikTok using a sexually suggestive name.  He’s following 500 women and has just … Read more

Dear Abby: My nephew ghosted our family — now he wants a wedding gift

Dear Abby: My nephew ghosted our family — now he wants a wedding gift

DEAR ABBY: Our nephew “Conrad” is engaged to be married soon. For several reasons, we are unable to attend the wedding. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t hesitate to send a generous gift as I have for our other nieces and nephews. However, Conrad is not normal. He doesn’t speak to me, my husband or our … Read more

Dear Abby: An hour-plus car trip with my husband is driving me away

Dear Abby: An hour-plus car trip with my husband is driving me away

DEAR ABBY: I’m 56 years old and have been married for 12 years. I don’t want to drive an hour and a half to spend time with my husband’s grandbabies. I have done that on many occasions and choose not to do it anymore. I’m not into babies — or children, for that matter. He … Read more

Dear Abby: My mother secretly buried my dad’s ashes and left me out of his final goodbye

Dear Abby: My mother secretly buried my dad’s ashes and left me out of his final goodbye

DEAR ABBY: After many years living near and helping my parents, I moved to another state to retire. My dad died three months after I moved. I begged my mother to let me fly back and help her with his arrangements, but she insisted I stay put.  Some weeks later, and two days after we … Read more

Dear Abby: I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat, but I want my friends to celebrate me

Dear Abby: I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat, but I want my friends to celebrate me

DEAR ABBY: I have two best friends going back to third grade (we’re in our 30s now) and one older sister. I’m the last in my friend group to get married. My fiancé and I are eloping this summer. We already own a house and need nothing, so I told my mother and sister that … Read more