Life Advice
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Asking Eric: Brother leaves house a mess after visit, but sister fears upsetting him
Dear Eric: My brother and I were estranged for many years at his insistence. We were able to reconcile after our father’s death when I gave him a larger portion of the estate than my father had willed to him.
My brother has some health issues which he picks and chooses to take the advice of his doctors. During Covid he became sick and had to ...Read more
Neighbor Acts Like Building Busybody
DEAR HARRIETTE: There is a woman in my building who is constantly acting like community watch or building security. We have a group chat, mainly for updates and maintenance announcement purposes, but she is always writing things in there and telling our building manager what to do. "There is an umbrella left in the lobby. Can we check the ...Read more
Colleague's Matchmaking Plans Don't Pan Out
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A while back, a colleague of mine said that he and his wife would like to invite me over for dinner at their home. The evening of the dinner, there was another guest, Chloe, a woman my age who teaches with my colleague's wife.
The evening was very enjoyable, with good conversation. At the end, the hostess told me that she had...Read more
Navigating Teen Turmoil
Dear Annie: My girlfriend and I have been together for four years, and most of that time has been great. The last year and half, however, has become quite complicated and strained due to her 14-year-old daughter. I'll call her "Rose."
When her mother and I got together, Rose was 10, and up until about a year or so ago, she was a great kid. ...Read more
Single File: The Two I's Part 1
Intimacy versus individuality sounds like a choice ... as if maybe you will find one or the other in your love life, but you know for sure you can't have both of them in the same relationship! That's the (yawn) fiction that's been circling the single world for generations. But the truth is not only is it possible for the same relationship to ...Read more

Dating then vs. now: Better, worse or just different?
When I was visiting my parents for Thanksgiving last year, I thought it would be fun, both as a dating coach and as their daughter, to interview them about how they met and how their relationship progressed. This month marks their 45th wedding anniversary, so I would like to give tribute to them in this article.
The main two questions I wanted ...Read more

Asking Eric: Husband always corrects wife, even when she’s right
Dear Eric: Often when I make a comment or tell a story my husband corrects me. If I try and defend what I've said, he just implies that I'm wrong and he's right. It can be embarrassing when we are out socially. Most of the time I let it slide. Because if I try to point out that I'm correct and he's wrong, he just carries on as if he's right. At ...Read more
Mother's Hoarding Worries Her Child
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am struggling to help my mother, who is a hoarder. Growing up, our house was always cluttered, but it has gotten significantly worse over the years. Every room is packed with boxes, old furniture and things she refuses to throw away. It's to the point where she can barely move around her home, and I worry about her safety. I've...Read more
This 'free Rent' Might Not Be Worth It
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My partner and I lived abroad for 12 years and have recently moved back to his hometown. He has a job, I am working as a temp, and we are struggling to find housing, so we have been staying with his parents.
I am incredibly grateful to them; we have been living with them for two months now, and may stay another two months (...Read more
Walking on Eggshells: When Control Becomes Abuse
Dear Annie: Lately, I've been struggling with my husband's temper, and I don't know what to do. When things don't go his way -- whether it's something small like dinner plans or something bigger like finances -- he lashes out. He calls me names, belittles me and makes me feel like I'm always in the wrong. I try to keep the peace, but it feels ...Read more
Partner's Texts With Another Woman Undermine Relationship
DEAR ABBY: My relationship with my partner hasn't been the greatest, but we are both working on ourselves to become better partners. Recently, I found out he has been texting another female (flirting). He 100% swore to me nothing more has happened besides the texting. He claims he likes the attention. This other woman knows he's in a ...Read more

Ask Anna: Exploring open fantasies -- how to handle regret and uncertainty
Dear Anna,
I need advice about a sexual situation I can't discuss with anyone else. My wife and I have been together for nine years (married for four) with a good relationship and great sex life. We've always explored fantasies through dirty talk during intimacy. I've always found the idea of seeing my wife with another man arousing. Early in ...Read more

Asking Eric: Husband’s anxiety makes wife anxious, too
Dear Eric: My husband is in his mid-80s and I’m in my late 70s. My husband has always suffered from anxiety, whereas I am calmer.
Over the years, my husband has used various anti-anxiety drugs under a doctor’s supervision and found one that works. He has tried some mindfulness techniques, but at times of high anxiety, he doesn’t use them....Read more
Partner With Bad Credit Hasn't Shared With Boyfriend
DEAR HARRIETTE: I've made some questionable decisions over the years that had a negative impact on my credit. Many of those mistakes were things I did when I didn't fully understand the concept of credit and financial responsibility. Now my bad credit is haunting me. I've been trying to take all of the steps to diminish debt and rectify certain ...Read more
Did I Mention That I'm A Doctor?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm a physician, so I am used to people addressing me as "Dr. Jones." That includes both patients and non-physician staff in the hospital where I work. Even out in public, if I run into someone from the hospital, it is common for them to address me as "Dr. Jones."
However, when I go to a medical office as a patient, whether ...Read more
Finding Financial Balance
Dear Annie: Money can be one of the biggest sources of stress in a marriage, and it sounds like some people who write in to you feel more like accountants than equal partners. That's a red flag. A healthy financial arrangement should feel fair, transparent and respectful -- not like you're under a microscope while your husband has free rein.
...Read more
Introvert's 'Safe Haven' Is Off-Limits To Family And Friends
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 knocking on my door. I have anxiety and some ...Read more

Asking Eric: Brother-in-law gets aggressive about inheritance split
Dear Eric: My brother passed in 2023. He was not married and had no children. He left an estate of $1.5 million. My two sisters and I split his estate equally and have finally closed the estate. From the start, my older sister's husband protested that we should not split the estate equally. He says we should have split it to "level the ...Read more
Sensitive Reader Wants To Take Things Less Seriously
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am trying to work on becoming less bothered by the small things in life. I take things personally, whether they are big or small, and I let them ruin my whole day. For instance, if someone makes a harmless joke at my expense or if I receive minor criticism at work, I dwell on it for hours, sometimes even days. Even when I know ...Read more
But What Did The Groom Do?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: On my daughter's wedding day, the weather was perfect, as was the venue and all preparations. A few hours before the ceremony, the groom was arrested on an active warrant. (That's an issue for another day.)
We were already at the venue. The bridal party was getting dressed and photos were being taken while the bride was on ...Read more