Life Advice
/Health
The Truth Comes Out Via Conveniently Timed Text
DEAR ABBY: A few years ago, my sister and I took our kids on vacation together. She and I get along but have never been close. Sometimes I walk on eggshells around her because I never know what might make her upset.
I thought we were having a good time on that vacation and getting along well, even though I was anxious. We were both taking ...Read more
Grieving Friend Produces Off-The-Wall Accusations
DEAR ABBY: I am a happy, decidedly single woman with a large group of friends who are all married. Most of us grew up together, and all of us have been like extended family for the past 25 years.
This year, one of the wives lost three family members within three months. This has been devastating to her, of course, as well as to all of us as we ...Read more
Longtime Friendship Collapses Amid Lies, Drugs And Deception
DEAR ABBY: The first Christmas my future husband and I were dating, he gave me an angel ring. I asked him to take me to a bar where my best friend worked so I could show it to her. When I showed it to her, she told me her cancer had come back. I gave her the ring and told her to hang onto it, hoping it would give her the strength to fight ...Read more
Couple's Ancient Divorce Is Still A Sore Subject
DEAR ABBY: My parents have been divorced for 30 years. It was an unpleasant divorce because Dad had an affair with a woman he worked with and married her soon after. Mom was devastated. She and Dad were high school sweethearts.
Both have moved on from this -- sort of. Dad has since divorced, remarried and divorced again. He's now with a woman ...Read more
Wedding Planning Shifts To A Cousin's Appearance
DEAR ABBY: I have a 25-year-old niece, "Meadow," who embraces the hippie lifestyle. She's kind and sweet and loves everyone. She has also opposed "the Establishment." She's heavily tattooed and has several facial piercings and thick underarm hair.
My son is the complete opposite. He is in the business world and is very professional in his ...Read more
Woman Believes Mother Is Playing Favorites
DEAR ABBY: I am on a limited income. My younger sister, "Tara," is a medical professional with disposable income she spends on frivolous things. I have one son, age 13; she has three children, ages 14, 10 and 3. Tara and I live a few miles apart; our mother lives 60 miles away. My mother keeps my sister's kids every other week. She rarely keeps ...Read more
Romance Between Relatives Upsets Pair's Close Friends
DEAR ABBY: My husband's best friend, "Kevin," lost his wife three years ago. He's currently in a relationship with his niece (his deceased brother's daughter). Kevin is in his 60s; she's in her 50s. We find this disgusting and do not condone it. They are both from Portugal. Is this acceptable in other countries?
We have tried to discuss it with...Read more
Generous Gift Isn't Enough For Mom Who Asks For More
DEAR ABBY: I'm a professional, well-educated adult who moved back home because of concerns about my father's health as well as having landed a much better job. As an extra perk, I've been able to save money to pay toward my student loans, as well as spoil my parents a bit as they grow older.
I recently gifted my parents (for the second time) ...Read more
Woman Rages At Husband For Getting A Good Job
DEAR ABBY: My niece, "Elle," and her husband, "Liam," have been self-employed for 20 years, but due to the economy, Liam decided to go into the workforce. He is now employed at a state job with great pay and benefits for them and their four children.
Our family is elated for him and his family, except Elle. It's unbelievable how determined she ...Read more
Relationship Reaches Two Years Without A Meetup
DEAR ABBY: I am a gay man who matched with another guy on a dating site two years ago this month. At first, we texted constantly. No one has ever made me feel the way he made me feel through texting alone. He displayed qualities that set him apart from anyone else I have talked to. We made a date, but he canceled at the last minute because of ...Read more
Boyfriend's Contact With Exes Raises Fresh Doubts
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have dated for seven months. We have a good relationship in terms of compatibility. We are both Christian and educated, and we have good professions. We are fun-loving and both of us like to invest and travel. He enjoys my company and says I am the girl with the best qualities he's ever dated.
But I do have one ...Read more
New Mother Refuses To Let Her Grandma Hold The Baby
DEAR ABBY: My oldest daughter, "Kate," is 22. Her baby is now 6 months old. She is the first grandchild and great-grandchild. Kate refuses to allow my mom to hold her baby. My mom has held the baby a couple of times, but my daughter immediately swooped in and took the baby from her. During the last family gathering, Kate wouldn't let me hold the...Read more
Spouse Endures Second Loss After Wife's Passing
DEAR ABBY: I am trying to come to terms with the passing of my wife, "Charlotte," a month ago. Many old friends and family have been supportive. What hurts, in addition to my grief, is the silence from a particular couple.
For years, we were very close with this family when we both had young boys growing up. We celebrated all the joys and life-...Read more
Quarter-Century Marriage Is An Intimacy-Free Zone
DEAR ABBY: I'm in a sexless 25-year marriage. It was not always this way, but any intimacy has been over for more than a decade. My wife's libido has waned, which I understand. What she does do is continually bring up issues about me from years ago as if they were yesterday.
I have my faults, like lack of communication and shutting down, which ...Read more
Workplace Tension Builds After Dustup With Manager
DEAR ABBY: I'm a soft-spoken person. I work in a medical laboratory, and I am finally speaking up for what I believe in (after years of social anxiety and depression). At the last meeting, when asked by the manager for suggestions to improve the lab workflow, I spoke up.
Fast-forward to tonight. When I expressed some excitement about my idea, ...Read more
Brother-In-Law Is Never Shy In Sharing Political Beliefs
DEAR ABBY: This is the third time I have received a gift of a political book from my brother-in-law! We are poles apart politically. It came with a message to "please read the book THIS time." He is expecting a book report and discussion of the book when he next visits.
He started doing this several years ago after my sister died. She used to ...Read more
Revelation Of Long Affair Clouds Present And Future
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have known each other for 25 years. We married five years ago. At that time, I was making 500-mile round trips twice a month to visit my children from my first marriage. I was, and still am, crazy about her.
However, two years ago, my wife admitted to a long-term romantic affair with a married man who has two children. ...Read more
Family Dynamics Add To Sister's Anxiety Issues
DEAR ABBY: Five years ago, I was diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). It manifests itself with sudden outbursts of anger when I'm stressed, which is often. I have three sisters, two of whom are bossy and try to take over and control every little thing. I have always had a difficult relationship with one of them. When she stresses ...Read more
Man Can No Longer Support His Ne'er-Do-Well Brother
DEAR ABBY: My brother (eight years younger) has been hooked on drugs and in and out of jail for decades. Our father passed away five years ago. My brother lived with him in a different state until then. Prior to that, he stole from our mother and from me repeatedly.
He's a criminal and is currently in jail. When he's not in jail, he is homeless...Read more
Co-Worker, Friend Becomes Outlet For Others' Trauma
DEAR ABBY: It seems I am a human landfill into which people dump their trauma. I'm not sure how this happened. It started three years ago, when an estranged friend called me and talked for more than an hour about what had led to him getting fired from his job. I was touched that he had reached out, and I expected us to resume our friendship, but...Read more