Life Advice
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Asking Eric: Husband is threatened by wife’s work trips
Dear Eric: My husband thinks husbands and wives shouldn't travel separately unless absolutely necessary, that solo trips just open the door for all kinds of issues such as infidelity. (He's speaking from personal experience.) As a travel agent, I'd often enjoyed solo travel before we were married, including while we were dating, and I miss it. I...Read more
Cooking Group Shares Recipes Online Without Consent
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have recently become part of a new social cooking group, and while I have been enjoying the sense of community and shared passion for food, I have noticed that some members have been sharing my recipes and personal cooking techniques online without my consent, just changing up details like switching basil leaves to onions. ...Read more
Dad's Girlfriend Steals Everyone's Bowling-Alley Thunder
DEAR MISS MANNERS: For my 40th birthday, my sister planned a bowling party. She is very organized, and pre-entered the names of all 12 guests into the lanes (two lanes, six people at each).
My dad arrived late, while we were in the fourth frame, and unexpectedly brought his girlfriend, Tiffany. My mom, his ex-wife, had stepped away and it ...Read more
Rebuilding Trust After an Affair
Dear Annie: I've been married for 22 years, and my husband and I have three teenagers together. My issue is, I caught my husband cheating three years ago and found out that his affair had lasted six years. He claimed that he wasn't getting his needs met at home. Nonetheless, it broke my heart and my trust.
I don't know what I have to do to ...Read more
Helping People Has Become A Full-Time Job For Friend
DEAR ABBY: I enjoy helping my friends, my partner and family members. I feel doing good deeds is important in my retirement. My hands are pretty full with getting my elderly dad to medical visits, and I also visit him three times a week. I also have older single friends I do things for, such as occasionally dropping off meals and running errands...Read more
Mapmaker-turned-artist produces haunting portraits inspired by late sister's struggle with substance use disorder
DENVER -- If eyes are windows to the soul, then the eyes in William Stoehr’s paintings convey the isolation and despair that come with addiction and depression. They are lonely and haunting, especially in one of the pieces he painted of his late sister.
Her eyes are dark and sunken. Perhaps she has been crying. In the bottom left corner, ...Read more
Asking Eric: Husband punishing wife for her panic attacks
Dear Eric: I am a 63-year-old female who has been married for 45 years to a wonderful man. We’ve been blessed with a great relationship but the last two years I’ve developed a phobia about riding or driving a car on the highway. I’m fine on city streets and residential streets, but when getting on the highways I have started to have ...Read more
Teen Struggles Balancing Job, School, Social Life
DEAR HARRIETTE: My 16-year-old teenage daughter landed a part-time job this semester, and I can tell she's really feeling the pressure of trying to juggle work, school and her social life all at once. I want to support her independence and growth, but I can see how stressed out she is getting. I'm trying to figure out how to help her balance ...Read more
Reciprocating An Invitation From People You Don't Like
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A pair of neighbors hosted my wife and me for an impromptu dinner, to which we contributed a nice salad. The food was fine, the apartment lovely. We have sent them a thank-you note.
I know that we aren't required to reciprocate by inviting them to dinner in our apartment (thank goodness). But honestly, I don't want to ...Read more
When Cutting Ties With a Parent Is the Only Way to Heal
Dear Annie: This is not a letter to play the victim, so please hear me out. My mother has caused me so much hurt for as far back as I can remember. When I was a kid, I was sexually abused by my brother. I told her, and she said I was lying. I used to think I was adopted because there was no way a parent could be so mean to a biological child. ...Read more
Abused Sister Wants To Share Her Story With Man's Fiancee
DEAR ABBY: I was physically, emotionally and sexually abused by my oldest brother (six years my senior) from ages 6 to 11. As soon as I could verbalize what was happening, I went to my parents and told them. They believed me, but swept it under the rug and didn't provide any kind of therapy or treatment for either of us.
At 15, I had a mental ...Read more
Single File: Tips for That
The situation has eased somewhat, but the divorced dads of this world are still having a tough time winning custody of their children. The role of primary caregiver is usually given to the woman, and the man of the house has no more house -- nor home. His children become part-time guests. His family role is decimated -- as is his bank account ...Read more
Ask Anna: My partner's family doesn't like me!
Dear Anna,
I’m a 21-year-old woman, and I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost two years. We’re really happy together, but there’s one huge problem: His family does not like me. I’ve tried everything to make a good impression — bringing thoughtful gifts, offering to help with family dinners and always being polite. But no matter ...Read more
Erika Ettin: Defining the relationship: Exclusivity, labels and commitment
Many of us have heard the phrase “define the relationship,” often shortened to “DTR.” One might say, “We had the DTR talk,” or “We DTR’d it.” But it turns out that one person’s DTR talk is another person’s confusion… often when those two people are in the same exact relationship!
Every Monday on Instagram, I host “Ask ...Read more
Asking Eric: After 50 years, friend wants to be done with the group
Dear Eric: I have a group of three girlfriends from middle school/high school. We stayed close during college and were in each other’s weddings, etc. I have known these women for more than 50 years.
There is one person in the group that I have been consistently close with over the many years. The other two I did not and there was a more than ...Read more
Freelancer Struggles With Demanding Client
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a 26-year-old freelance writer who's been struggling to find a steady stream of clients and projects. A few months ago, a friend generously offered to refer me to someone in his network, but they have started making demands for quick turnarounds and extra revisions beyond what was initially agreed upon. They often communicate...Read more
'comfort' Dog Causes Discomfort To Everyone Else
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I, along with a friend, pre-purchased hard-to-get opera tickets. We've looked forward to attending for many months.
However, we just learned that our companion intends to bring her extremely unruly "comfort" poodle -- not only to the opera, but also to a lovely restaurant for dinner beforehand. This dog is ...Read more
Seeking Closure When a Close Friend Disappears
Dear Annie: My adult daughter was very close friends with a woman, her husband and their two teenage daughters. When her friend moved across the country, my daughter was heartbroken. However, they continued to talk, text and email almost daily. My daughter even traveled across the country and considered the possibility of moving to a nearby ...Read more
Some Conversations Can Look More Like An Interrogation
DEAR ABBY: I appreciate you offering your booklet "How to Be Popular" to people who are uncomfortable or uncertain in social situations. I don't know if the following tips are included, but here's what I do: When I meet someone for the first time, I say, "Tell me three things about yourself that you would like to share." As I listen to the ...Read more
Nedra Rhone: How to combat the loneliness epidemic
ATLANTA -- Monica Imani McCullough was an extremely shy child. The Atlanta resident lost her father when she was a teen and years later watched her mother lose a battle with Parkinson’s disease. She survived an emotional divorce, and in 2022 she was diagnosed with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Though she had written a book on loneliness ...Read more
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