Life Advice
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When Screen Time Interferes With Family Time
Dear Annie: I've been married to my husband, "David," for nine years. We have two kids, ages 7 and 4. Lately, I've been struggling with how much time he spends on his phone. Every night after dinner, instead of helping with bedtime or talking with me, David disappears into the garage or sits on the couch playing online poker. I've brought it ...Read more
Need For Healthy Changes Collides With Family's Habits
DEAR ABBY: I am struggling with a recent diagnosis of severe liver disease (non-alcoholic) and need to lose 30 pounds. I have had two bouts of cancer in five years as well as arthritis. I have dedicated myself to explicitly following my doctor's directions to eat organic and low-fat foods and to exercise daily to improve my liver. I face surgery...Read more

Asking Eric: Retiree feels obligated to always go see friends’ new band
Dear Eric: Since retiring, some friends have put together a band. I went to one of their gigs a couple years ago, and recently a practice session.
They would clearly like me to go to more, or all, of their gigs. The gigs are typically at night, an hour from where I live. I am a morning person. After years of commuting, I am happy to drive as ...Read more
Parent Upset That Daughter Is Dating Older Man
DEAR HARRIETTE: My eldest daughter is in a relationship with someone who is nearly twice her age. My daughter is 23, so when she shared the news with me that she was dating someone seriously, I was happy for her. She lives with me, so I'd see flowers being delivered and hear long-winded phone calls. She told me that things were serious between ...Read more
Father-In-Law Has One-Star Review For Five-Star Chef
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am an executive chef at a five-star restaurant who frequently entertains at home. I love to cook creatively and come up with ideas for things the guests have never had done before, usually with success.
However, I got some feedback after a dinner party that makes me wonder if I may have breached a rule of etiquette of which...Read more
Too Much of a Good Thing
Dear Annie: I have a cousin whom I've had a cherished lifelong friendship with.
We meet several times a year halfway between our homes and sometimes at each other's homes with our families. We often would bring each other a little something, such as vegetables from our garden or a loaf of bread from our favorite bakery.
The last time she ...Read more
Dad's Coaching Style Leaves A Lot To Be Desired
DEAR ABBY: My son is a loving husband, father and son. He coaches his 12-year-old son, my grandson, in various sports and sometimes is just a spectator. I'm worried because he often berates his son's playing ability. He has yelled at him during and after games, whether he is coaching or not. He yelled and screamed at him in front of everyone and...Read more
Single File: More Shyness Talk
DEAR SUSAN: OK, so there are shy men and shy women -- and not-so-shy men and not-so-shy women. Why should shyness be seen as something bad, something that needs correcting? Shyness isn't always bad; assertiveness isn't always good. We're just trying to be ourselves in a world that demands conformity. And, Susan, please don't promote women ...Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: 'Why have you never been married?'
The other day, a 60-something female, widowed client of mine received a message on Match.com from an accomplished, seemingly nice man. In her first response back to him, she asked – point blank – “Why have you never been married?” He replied very politely, saying that it was a combination of things, some work-related and some more ...Read more

Ask Anna: How to make LGBTQ+ friends as an adult
Happy Pride Month, advice-seekers! We’re getting gay this June by answering LGBTQ+ questions. As always, send your dating/sex/relationship que(e)ries to redeyedating@gmail.com.
Dear Anna,
My girlfriend and I (both 28, together for three years) have a solid group of friends from college and work, but we're the only queer couple in the bunch. ...Read more

Asking Eric: Parents excluded from daughter’s 40th birthday, but in-laws got an invite
Dear Eric: My daughter Tess turned 40 years old last month. Hard to believe how time flies. My husband and I took her and her husband, Mack, and two children out for dinner on her birthday as we always do every year. A few weeks before this, Mack asked my husband if we would babysit on a day after the birthday dinner. My husband told me that ...Read more
Friend Wants To Be The Center Of Attention
DEAR HARRIETTE: Is it OK to be selective about where or when I spend time with certain friends? Or does that make me shallow? One of my best friends is loud and often asks invasive questions. She likes being in the limelight, so she draws attention to our group by joking incessantly or interjecting in conversations. I love her because she is ...Read more
When They're Just Not That Into You ... Politically
DEAR MISS MANNERS: After well over a year of enduring political campaigning, we are quite fatigued from it all. The results were quite disappointing to us.
Then our dear neighbor announced they were mounting a campaign to run for a state district office and requested our substantial financial and fundraising support.
While understanding the ...Read more
When the Marriage Hurts
Dear Annie: When I married my husband, I was completely inexperienced and unaware of his interest in kink. Six months into our marriage, a woman contacted me claiming to be one of his submissives. She said she couldn't live with the guilt of me not knowing. I had just found out I was pregnant, and the stress led to a miscarriage.
We went to ...Read more
Couple Suffering Amid Tragic Loss Of Grandchild
DEAR ABBY: We recently suffered the loss of our first grandchild. She was only 24 and taken far too soon. My partner and I are working through our grief, which is challenging as we are in different stages. He also struggles with multiple mental health issues. They make things even more difficult, as I need to help him through some outbursts ...Read more

Asking Eric: Friend courts danger by feeding wildlife in her backyard
Dear Eric: A friend of mine is a lovely woman, and a real animal lover. The problem is that she lives near some woods and feeds the wild animals that come to her yard. I'm not talking about just putting out a bird feeder, but she feeds opossums, raccoons, deer and other creatures, and gets a lot of pleasure out of doing so. It is not recommended...Read more
Siblings' Childhood Behaviors Resurface As Adults
DEAR HARRIETTE: Now that my siblings and I are "orphans" -- both of our parents have died -- we have only one another left. This is proving to be challenging. All of our old childhood behaviors are coming back, and I feel stuck in the past. My older sister is really pushing my buttons, and I am finding it difficult to interact well with her ...Read more
The Guest Room Is For -- Wait For It -- Guests
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I own a beachfront timeshare with two bedrooms, each with a full bath attached. When I invite a guest, should I offer them the much larger "owner's suite," or the very-nice-but-smaller guest suite?
Do I take my guidance from the names of these spaces, or should I give my guest the larger space?
GENTLE READER: The reason you ...Read more
Living Together, Drifting Apart
Dear Annie: I've been married for over 25 years, and from the outside, it probably looks like we have a stable life. We raised kids together; we pay the bills; we attend family functions. But inside the walls of our home, I feel painfully alone.
My husband and I barely talk anymore unless it's about schedules, errands or something to do with ...Read more
Marriage Hasn't Been The Same For Over A Decade
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 22 years. It was a normal relationship, and I was very happy. However, over the last 12 years, my wife has changed. There is ZERO affection, no hugging, holding hands and nothing sexual. We are like roommates. She blames it on having been molested when she was a child. Our level of intimacy was normal for 10 ...Read more
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