DEAR ABBY: I helped a friend by giving her rides to and from work for two weeks while her car was being repaired. When she got her car back, she told me to let her know if she could ever repay the favor by helping me. Recently, my car needed repairs, so I asked if … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been taking care of my father-in-law for four years — getting his groceries, going to the bank, picking up prescriptions and doing different tasks. He’s disabled and lives in an upstairs apartment with no access to getting downstairs. He can’t walk, bathe himself or get in and out … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My daughter, “Virginia”, age 27, lives with her boyfriend, “Ray,” on the East Coast and teaches kindergarten. Last month, she confided that she had caught him cheating. She saw texts on his phone. When she confronted him, Ray immediately confessed and was very apologetic, but he also kept the woman’s number in his … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have three grown children, all of whom still live at home. I had always thought that once they graduated from college and got good jobs, they should start paying rent. Because my husband had to pay rent when he still lived at home, he said he would never do … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I am elderly and stuck in a miserable marriage. The romance is long gone. We live as roommates. If I were to die tomorrow, I don’t think anyone would miss me. I’m partially disabled, and it is difficult for me to get out on my own. Must I accept life as it is, … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married 30 years. Over the last couple of years, a male friend of ours (also married) has taken an interest in my wife. He obviously finds her attractive, as most men do, but I’m trying to figure out what his intentions are. He comments to me about … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 17 years to a good man with many great attributes. However, our relationship lacks connection. Every effort at emotional connection is initiated by me (like planning date nights or going out for a walk to have a conversation). I have told him many times I need him to … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I’m in my early 30s; my husband is 46. We have been married three years. He has a 24-year-old daughter, “Kiki.” Kiki has always been spoiled and catered to; she learned how to lie and manipulate during her childhood. I have tried to help her because I believed his family when they said … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I am a 37-year-old woman who seems to be the go-to person in my family to figure things out. Due to my stepmom not feeling comfortable enough with her English and my striving to win her approval, I made sure to take care of the things she couldn’t from an early age. The … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My elementary school teacher passed away recently. I hadn’t seen her in more than 20 years because of how she made me feel. I remember her as manipulative and having a negative attitude toward the less fortunate. Because I didn’t come from a rich or prominent family, I was subjected to humiliation, fear … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I have been friends with a couple for 30 years. Both are alcoholics. They function, work at farmers’ markets, are sociable, have a house and pay their bills. Yet, at least once, maybe twice a month, they get totally wasted and the wife calls me and rambles on incoherently. I suspect they get … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I’m in an open relationship with my partner. We both enjoy hooking up with other people, but only if we agree on the person. It was going great; I still got my one-on-one time with my partner. But now it seems that instead of making love with just me, the only time he … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My sister recently lost her husband, who passed away after a brief fight with cancer. Her daughter, my niece, was scheduled to be married later this year. They struggle with finances, and my brother-in-law’s death exacerbated the situation. In order to help out, my wife and I quietly gave them $1,000 to put … Read more
DEAR ABBY: When my husband, “Sid,” was a young adult, his mother died by suicide. A few years later, when his maternal grandparents died, his mother’s two siblings inherited his grandparents’ estate. Other family members have commented that it seemed wrong for Sid and his sister to be disinherited from their mother’s share of the … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I had a five-year relationship with a man. We broke up because he was unfaithful. Even though I’m willing to forgive and still have feelings for him, my kids don’t like this man and don’t want me to reconnect with him. My children say that if I do, they no longer want to … Read more
DEAR ABBY: My daughter was diagnosed with a disease. Soon after, she decided to marry a man she’d met. I’m not fond of the guy, and I find it difficult to have a relationship with him. They moved to another state, and I asked that she not bring him to this house. However, every chance … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I have been divorced from my ex-husband, “Paul,” for 20 years. I never remarried. The divorce was mostly my fault because I was unfaithful. We never tried to save our marriage. He immediately started dating and remarried 18 months later. We have remained friends due to having four children and now grandchildren. I … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I dated a colleague when I was 22 but broke it off because I couldn’t deal with the fact that he was several inches shorter than me. I did not tell him why. I just said, “It’s me, not you.” I am now in my 60s, have had a very successful career, never … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I’m a woman in my early 20s, and I have been dating my man for two years. I love him dearly and want to spend the rest of my life with him. He plans to propose before the end of the year, and we plan to be married next year. Sex with him … Read more
DEAR ABBY: How do I tell my friend “Lila” that I think she’d be happier if she got divorced? To be clear, I don’t think her relationship is unsafe — it’s just unhappy. Things have been rocky with her wife for a while now. They keep trying to work things out, but every few months, … Read more