ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My cousin "Sheila" agreed to split the rent with me when she moved into my apartment, with me covering the entire deposit. Our apartment has two rooms, one for my fiance and me, and the other for Sheila and her boyfriend. I am a person with a physical disability and constant need of a wheelchair, so the limited space in the ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been mortified, twice, by close friends while talking on the phone. They each told a story about another friend who repeatedly annoys them with a certain behavior. It was only later that I realized they were talking about me!

What does Miss Manners think of this way of criticizing a friend?

GENTLE READER: That your ...Read more

Dear Annie: We have neighbors who reside in a cul-de-sac that is at the rear of our property. Our property is located on a U-shaped half-mile neighborhood, which is ideal for walking. Over time, these neighbors have chosen to repeatedly cut through our property on an almost daily basis to facilitate their walking routine. It's gotten to the ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I live in a lovely older neighborhood and have enjoyed wonderful neighbors over many years. The homes are close together with windows often left open in spring, summer and fall, as large shade trees keep our homes cool.

A couple of years ago, our longtime next-door neighbors moved, and a new neighbor, a single woman, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I landed an internship at my local city hall within the legislative sector, thanks to a recommendation from a friend who is employed there. This friend's mother shares a personal connection with one of the councilors, which is how my friend got the job.

I am interested in this job and its scope, so I naturally excel in the role....Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We have a relative whom we always invite when we host dinner parties, whether it's for a holiday or just for fun. She always replies that she'd be happy to attend.

My issue is that she doesn't eat our meals. She will place small amounts of food on her plate and maybe eat half of it. Her excuse is always that she's just not ...Read more

Dear Readers: Many of you wrote in with tips on encouraging children to focus less on material items. Thank you for sharing these terrific suggestions. Here are some of my favorite letters:

Dear Annie: I just read your letter from "Caught in the Middle," the parent whose daughter is being spoiled by her grandparents and is looking for a ...Read more

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

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am upset with my husband because he thinks that it isn't his responsibility to do our daughter's hair -- ever. He thinks that since he's a man, any responsibility that is deemed feminine isn't his job. I've tried explaining that parenting responsibilities should be shared equally, regardless of gender stereotypes, but he's ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been slowly slogging through grad school -- one course a semester -- and after four long years, I'm finally going to graduate.

I work in the industry I'm going to school for, and I'd like to invite some of my co-workers out to dinner to celebrate. While I'd love to foot the bill for everyone, I'm not financially able ...Read more

Dear Annie: Over the years, I have worked in day care centers for 2-year-olds, and my husband is a speech therapist. I have a family friend who is raising a 2-year-old from the community. We see their child continuously and think that he is behind developmentally, especially in speech.

They could hypothetically wait until he is old enough to ...Read more

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

Officer Castaneda was already waiting for me at the front as I pulled up.

"She's mine," she called to the people at the front desk, puzzled at my handing them paperwork for the ride along. I had just dropped off the kids at school, but Castaneda had already been on shift since 6:30 a.m. It was her "Monday," the start of her week, and she was ...Read more

Dear Annie: My 96-year-old mother has two children -- me and my older sibling, "Jennifer." Our mother's trust originally had Jennifer as trustee, but she moved to the West Coast, about 2,000 miles away. A year and a half before Jennifer moved, she tried to steal some small, expensive pieces of jewelry from our mother. She was caught standing ...Read more

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

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a high school teacher facing a challenging situation with one of my students, and I'm at a loss for how to improve our relationship. Despite my best efforts to make a positive and supportive classroom environment, it seems like this particular student and I just can't seem to see eye to eye. Our interactions are often tense, ...Read more