Dear Abby: I hate having visitors at my home and the outside world drains me

Dear Abby: I hate having visitors at my home and the outside world drains me

DEAR ABBY: How do I politely tell people I don’t like having anyone visit me in my home? My home is my safe haven. The energy of the outside world drains me, and I don’t want that feeling inside my home. This includes family members, friends, neighbors, church family and anyone else who might come … Read more

Dear Abby: My brother-in-law built a death trap in his backyard — should I call the cops?

Dear Abby: My brother-in-law built a death trap in his backyard — should I call the cops?

DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law thinks he is good with his hands. He built a deck on the back of his house, and it’s obvious that he’s not a professional. My husband and I have never sat on his deck because it doesn’t look safe. (Others have said the same thing.) He bragged to me about … Read more

Dear Abby: I am 21 years sober — my estranged family still treats me like a messy drunk

Dear Abby: I am 21 years sober — my estranged family still treats me like a messy drunk

DEAR ABBY: I am a troubled older man. I was married with three children, but I drank too much. My wife and I divorced after 20 years of marriage. We were both flawed. I have been remarried and divorced since. My children grew up, and we had a great relationship. I also had a great … Read more

Dear Abby: I’m dying — and I’m not telling my husband or kids

Dear Abby: I’m dying — and I’m not telling my husband or kids

DEAR ABBY: I am in my early 30s and dealing with an illness that can kill me. I’m OK with dying, and I don’t want any treatment. I just want to go. I have been dealing with suicidal thoughts, depression and self-harm since the age of 13. The problem is my children, husband and close … Read more

Dear Abby: My wife won’t stop leaving chewed-up fingernails in our children’s playroom

Dear Abby: My wife won’t stop leaving chewed-up fingernails in our children’s playroom

DEAR ABBY: I am married with two children, 6 and 4. I love them and my wife. When I met her, I knew she was a little messy. I am neat, tidy and generally organized. Over time, her behavior (specifically, cleanliness and tidiness) has grown worse. It’s reached the point where she leaves her chewed-off … Read more

Dear Abby: My husband insists on walking around the neighborhood in nothing but a bathrobe

Dear Abby: My husband insists on walking around the neighborhood in nothing but a bathrobe

DEAR ABBY: While doing some house cleaning, I came across a column of yours that I had clipped and tucked away. On one of the pages I had dog-eared was the poem, “Decide to Forgive.” I was struck by how timely it is. The message is much needed at this time. I believe in “doing … Read more

Dear Abby: My niece disinvited me from her wedding because I have a service dog

Dear Abby: My niece disinvited me from her wedding because I have a service dog

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 27 years. Most of them have been miserable. My husband has been a functioning alcoholic for more than 40 years. I consider his behavior emotionally abusive. I hate my home. My kids (22, 19 and 17) don’t want me to leave him. I live in my bedroom all … Read more

Dear Abby: My wife won’t get skinny for me

Dear Abby: My wife won’t get skinny for me

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I went for our annual checkups seven months ago. We were both overweight and told by our respective doctors that we needed to make some lifestyle changes to improve our health. Since that time, I have made the needed changes. As a result, I have lost 40 pounds, and all … Read more

Dear Abby: My relatives keep putting tacky decoration on my dead daughter’s grave

Dear Abby: My relatives keep putting tacky decoration on my dead daughter’s grave

DEAR ABBY: We lost our 16-year-old daughter two years ago to leukemia. It’s been a difficult two years. I am writing to ask if there are rules of etiquette for visiting a loved one at the cemetery? We go regularly. I decorate the area in front of her stone with holiday or seasonally appropriate decorations. … Read more

Dear Abby: I was engaged to an older man who died — I don’t know how to move on

Dear Abby: I was engaged to an older man who died — I don’t know how to move on

DEAR ABBY: I am 36 years old. When I was 30, I was engaged to a man who was 50. He was the only man I have ever been deeply in love with. He died unexpectedly from a heart attack, and I am still traumatized. I often relive that day in my mind. We were … Read more

Dear Abby: I stopped dying my hair and now my husband finds me less attractive

Dear Abby: I stopped dying my hair and now my husband finds me less attractive

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together for 16 years and have what I consider to be a happy marriage. My question concerns ongoing conversations we have been having about my hair color. The first couple of years we were together, my hair was gray, and then I dyed it red. While I … Read more

Dear Abby: Am I wrong for telling my SIL and BIL that they should have talked to me before inviting his children to my event?

Dear Abby: Am I wrong for telling my SIL and BIL that they should have talked to me before inviting his children to my event?

DEAR ABBY: I have been an amateur astronomer for 25-plus years. I always go meteor watching as well as observe any celestial event. This year I invited my brother-in-law and his wife to watch a meteor shower with my husband and me. Since we both have campers, I reserved and paid the deposit for two … Read more

Dear Abby: I told a horrible secret to a relative — now she’s threatening she’ll tell my children

Dear Abby: I told a horrible secret to a relative — now she’s threatening she’ll tell my children

DEAR ABBY: I was raped by a family member and, due to special circumstances, told no one except one other family member, who I swore to secrecy. She recently got mad at me because of my religious beliefs, and now she’s saying if I pass away before she does, she’s going to tell my grown … Read more

Dear Abby: My boyfriend’s snotty Gen Z daughter is making my life hell

Dear Abby: My boyfriend’s snotty Gen Z daughter is making my life hell

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been in a relationship with a man for the last five years. “Julian” came into my life after my husband passed. He is 65; I’m 45. Julian has two grown daughters, 36 and 27. The older one and I get along famously. Amber is somewhat immature. She has two small kids, and … Read more

Dear Abby: Let’s discard bad habits for healthy new ones in 2025

Dear Abby: Let’s discard bad habits for healthy new ones in 2025

DEAR READERS: Welcome to 2025. A New Year has arrived; the last one is safely behind us. As always, this New Year brings with it our hopes for a new beginning. Today presents an opportunity to discard destructive old habits for healthy new ones, and with that in mind, I will share Dear Abby’s often-requested … Read more

Dear Abby: How do I make a man stop hitting on me while his partner has dementia?

Dear Abby: How do I make a man stop hitting on me while his partner has dementia?

DEAR ABBY: I am a widow of two decades who has raised a family in an old historic home in a small island town. In the course of renovating and maintaining the home, a father-and-son electrician team has been like family.  During the past year or so, the dad, who is in his late 70s … Read more

Dear Abby: The woman I wanted to leave my wife for ghosted me

Dear Abby: The woman I wanted to leave my wife for ghosted me

DEAR ABBY: I was recently informed that my teenage granddaughter is identifying as a boy. She has a male name she prefers and wants people to refer to her using he/him pronouns. Her parents are supportive, to a point. Her mother uses her preferred name and pronouns. Her father supports her using this name and … Read more

Dear Abby: My husband spent all our savings on his mistresses

Dear Abby: My husband spent all our savings on his mistresses

DEAR ABBY: A year ago, I found out my husband has been cheating on me with multiple women for more than a decade and kept two of his conquests for that entire time. He also sent all our savings to his girlfriends in another country. Because we have two disabled adult children and one neurotypical … Read more