DEAR ABBY: My daughter, “Violet,” lives about two hours away. She and her mother (my wife) do not get along. Violet was always a rebellious, independent wild child, as well as the source of a lot of family problems. Violet and I also were estranged until we recently reconciled. Yesterday, she sent me an email … Read more
DEAR ABBY: About eight months ago, I stumbled upon my husband watching online porn. He admitted to habitual use but said it was just a stress reliever, and he would stop viewing it. Meanwhile, I am plagued by feelings of not being enough for him, mainly before or during sex, but also at random times … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My sister is struggling with severe mental health issues, and so is her live-in boyfriend of 6 1/2 years. She thinks everyone she’s ever had contact with was involved in human trafficking her throughout her childhood. Abby, we grew up safe and privileged on a farm, but my sister had some severe trauma … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I recently went on vacation and had my cat sitter come by twice a day as she has for the past five years when I travel. For the first time, I also asked a fairly new acquaintance I had met in a reputable spiritual center, and with whom I clicked quickly, to come … Read more
DEAR ABBY: After their 25th anniversary dinner, my nephew “Will” was blindsided when his wife announced that she had never loved him and has been in love with her stepbrother since her teens. Will had supported her completely and gladly. (She wanted to be a stay-at-home mother; he makes good money.) This hurt him terribly. … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been amicably married for 16 years. We enjoy each other’s company and are home together a lot. However, over the last year or so, I have had an increasingly hard time hearing what he’s saying. He sits in his chair and mumbles to the point where I can’t … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I’m in a long-term relationship with an incredible guy I’ll call “Jerry.” We both have grown children, his parents and family are amazing, and we all get along wonderfully. Jerry works hard as a health-care professional. I work as well, but he supports us financially, for which I am grateful. He has an … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I had two sons, “Seth” and “Jason,” who were best buddies. Seth passed away a year and a half ago, which has been really hard on us all, but especially on Jason. He’s now 17 and in high school. He’s doing OK, but he is still sort of listless and … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law is her alcoholic husband’s enabler. He has health conditions that make walking difficult. He falls down often and can’t make it to the bathroom. Being drunk all the time (he consumes a fifth of vodka every two days) also prevents him from getting the surgery he needs. My SIL buys his … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I am 65, single and retired with an almost-40-year-old bipolar child. Although she’s compliant with her meds, she also self-medicates and sometimes must be hospitalized due to her mania. She doesn’t work and refuses to apply for any aid. I have stopped paying for her needs other than food, shelter and helping financially … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I recently spent weeks caring for my mom in hospice. I was holding her hand when she took her last breath. I had announced to family and friends her choice to enter hospice. They knew her death was imminent. Being the last surviving child, it was up to me to arrange her funeral. … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I am a 67-year-old man who has two sisters. Recently, I was at my younger sister “Mitzi’s” house, installing some blinds. While there, I received a phone call from my girlfriend. (We have been together nine months, after my wife passed last year.) My girlfriend and I were discussing finances, including the topic … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I am a retired Marine who married my supervisor’s daughter. I’ll call her “Zoe.” He and I were good friends. Zoe and I divorced in 1997. During the marriage, I found out that he was not her real father. It was a family secret that accidentally got out. Zoe and I had a … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My husband’s best friend, “Herb,” (aka “Mr. Cheapo”) is getting married for the third time. He’s planning the wedding and suggesting the attendees pay for their meals. I told my husband that Herb is setting himself up for failure again. (Not to mention he’s having his fiancee sign a prenup as he did … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My parents divorced when I was in high school, and Dad kept the house I grew up in. I’m in college across town and have my own place, but I still visited Dad often. As a teenager, it used to be my job to cook the family dinner two nights a week. I … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My husband is going to be 70 next month. He is in good physical shape but has taken up smoking marijuana every day. He says he is addicted. I have told him how much I hate that he uses dope. He quits for a while and then goes back to it. We have … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I was diagnosed with colon cancer five years ago. After two surgeries and three hospital stays, I recovered. The experience made me realize at 62 that it was time to downsize. I moved my husband and myself into a smaller, one-story home in a lovely retirement community. I have now been diagnosed with … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My sister, “Jenny,” and I have had a falling-out and no longer speak. She’s upset with me because she found out her adult daughter, “Paisley,” had moved without telling anyone. I discovered it when Paisley had some mail sent to my house and later revealed she had moved across the country. Jenny and … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I have been a registered nurse for 11 years. I am experienced in hospital floor nursing and clinic nursing, and I have always been well regarded in my field. I have never had a problem forming positive relationships with my co-workers. I recently moved to a new unit. Although the workflow is slightly … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I am a college student finishing up my final year. There’s this girl I have liked since my sophomore year. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out. After I asked if we could hang out one-on-one, she explained that she didn’t like romance. We ended up being friends, though. However, I have noticed we are … Read more