Life Advice
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Asking Eric: Ex-friend left behind dead cat
Dear Eric: Before a summer trip to visit family in 2019, a friend’s cat passed away. She wrapped the kitty in one of her husband’s T-shirts and buried it in the desert backyard, maybe two feet deep. Around the day she was leaving, she discovered that desert fauna had slipped inside the backyard fence and disturbed the site. She told me she ...Read more
'Messiness' Might Actually Be ADHD
Dear Readers: Many of you wrote in about the fact that "Wife Problem" should be assessed for ADHD. Thank you all so much for your input. Below are a few letters:
Dear Annie: This is in response to the letter in which the author's wife cannot finish basic tasks around the house without beginning a large project that never gets finished. This ...Read more
Man Makes Plans With Widow Neighbor While Wife Works
DEAR ABBY: A married couple we met six years ago had a vacation house near ours. We became friendly and would have dinners and drinks and hang out together doing various fun activities. Once her husband passed, it was just the three of us.
When I'm not in the area of our vacation house and my husband is, he thinks it's still appropriate to do ...Read more
Asking Eric: Daughter-in-law wants to be too close
Dear Eric: My daughter-in-law wants a much closer relationship with me than I feel comfortable with. She began calling me “mom” when she and my son first got engaged. I’ve told her several times that I would prefer to be called by my first name, but she still calls me mom.
A few months after the wedding, she began dropping by my house ...Read more
Mother-In-Law Makes Hurtful Comments About Woman's Acne
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a 28-year-old woman, and up until this year, I've never had any serious issues with my skin. However, seemingly out of nowhere, I developed cystic acne this year. I've become self-conscious, to the point where I sometimes dread going out in public or even seeing friends and family. What's made this even harder to cope with is...Read more
Whatever The Reason, Keep Your Feet Off The Dashboard
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Will you please address car passenger etiquette -- more specifically, passengers placing their feet on the dashboard? My dilemma is whether it is disgusting and unladylike, or a subliminal message implying some sort of positional engagement readiness.
GENTLE READER: Huh? Is this person expecting an engagement toe ring?
If ...Read more
How Do I Make It Right After Cheating on my Boyfriend?
Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I have been together for six years now. Two years ago, I cheated on him, and he found out shortly after when he looked at my phone and saw that I was texting the other guy. At the time, I panicked and said that my best friend, "Deb," had been using my phone. I then reached out to Deb and begged her to cover for me ...Read more
Husband's Stuff Isn't The Only Thing Building Up At Home
DEAR ABBY: My sister and I grew up with our father after our parents divorced. He was a hoarder. Years later, when he finally had to move out, it took three moving trucks to empty the two-bedroom house. You can imagine what that was like. I am very triggered by clutter. I appreciate an organized home with space to breathe.
My husband of 10 ...Read more
Asking Eric: Grieving daughter won’t let mom sell childhood home
Dear Eric: I have an adult daughter who moved out but does not want me to change her former bedroom.
She had a breakup seven years ago that caused a nervous breakdown because of the cruel way it was done: packing her things up and mailing them to our house. She moved back in with us as a result of this breakup and started therapy.
After many ...Read more
Siblings Debate Best Care For Ailing Father
DEAR HARRIETTE: My sisters and I are trying to figure out the best way to move forward with our dad's care. Up until recently, he was living independently and doing quite well on his own. He's always been a strong and self-sufficient person, so we never really worried too much about him being alone. However, everything changed when he had a ...Read more
Ask A Simple Question, Get A Snippy Scolding
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am allergic to all dairy products, so I must be careful to avoid consuming any foods containing milk, cream, butter or cheese.
Because the presence of dairy is not always obvious, I must often inquire about ingredients in a given dish when I am away from my own kitchen. I make these inquiries as gently and respectfully as I...Read more
How Do I Negotiate a Raise?
Dear Annie: My wife has been on pain medication for almost a decade, and it has turned into a serious addiction. I have to monitor her pills weekly -- though, recently, it's been daily. She hasn't worked at all the last decade, ever since she started getting prescribed the painkillers. She lays in bed all day long, sleeping or watching TV. I've ...Read more
Couple Have Divergent Views About Punctuality
DEAR ABBY: A friend retired, moved and gave me her well-paying, once-a-week job doing industrial cleaning. It pays a sizable chunk of our bills. My husband, who agreed to work with me doing this, gives me a hard time every week by being late.
We need to be there after business hours at 5:30 p.m. so we don't interrupt anyone while they're ...Read more
Asking Eric: Burnt twice, future mother-in-law wants no relationship
Dear Eric: I have been dating a wonderful man for a little over a year and we are talking about getting married. I have been married once before and he has been married twice before with children from both marriages. His second ex-wife had addiction issues.
His mother has declared that she has no desire or time to get to know me after dealing ...Read more
Couple Can't Agree About Holiday Traditions
DEAR HARRIETTE: There is an ongoing issue in my relationship that involves a recurring conflict over holiday traditions. My boyfriend is passionate about us celebrating every holiday with his extended family, which often means missing out on traditions that are important to me. For instance, last Christmas, while he was busy with his family's ...Read more
New Parents Probably Just Tired, Not Upset
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few days after I got my brand-new, light-colored couch, I had friends over with their new baby. When the dad started changing the baby's diaper directly on my new couch, I quickly offered to put a blanket down.
He glared at me like I'd insulted him, and they left soon after. Was I wrong to offer?
GENTLE READER: New parents...Read more
Husband Has a Wandering Eye
Dear Annie: I cannot believe I am asking for advice. Here goes! My mom, with whom I was very close, passed away 21 months ago. Annie, my life has never been the same.
I cared for Mom when she became unexpectedly ill. I witnessed her last breath. By all accounts, I should be happy that I was the loving daughter and did right by Mom and the ...Read more
Husband Can't Be Bothered To Help With Wife's Needs
DEAR ABBY: I recently scheduled a last-minute consultation with my doctor that might result in surgery. My husband has a meeting during that time, which isn't actually necessary, but he feels he needs to attend. I feel he is choosing a non-urgent obligation over my more immediate concerns.
All that said, I am capable of handling what comes my ...Read more
Single File: Tips of Gold
Get closer to your parents. Like most corny advice, this one's pure gold. These people who sired you and raised you into adulthood are special in your life, unique and irreplaceable, too often ignored in the rush to adulthood. Take them to dinner, one at a time, and let them get to know their offspring as an adult, and a loving one at that. It ...Read more
Situationships… How and why?
Ah, the situationship—the modern-day romantic limbo that leaves many of us scratching our heads, wondering, “What are we?” If you’ve ever found yourself in this ambiguous gray area, you’re not alone. Situationships have become increasingly common in today’s dating world (were they always, and now there’s just a name for it?), where...Read more
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