Life Advice
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Enablement Versus Support
Dear Annie: My cousin, who is more like a sister to me, has been making a series of reckless and concerning choices over the past year. After having her second baby, she left her husband and began dating a string of borderline-abusive men. Now she's signing over full custody of her children to her ex-husband and impulsively buying a house out ...Read more

Asking Eric: After husband’s death, friends ask intrusive questions
Dear Eric: My husband passed away unexpectedly at a young age. I am a few years younger than he was, so of course it was a shock. The problem is a friend, "Nancy", discussed details surrounding his passing I would not have shared. It created the additional stress of people I hadn't heard from in years contacting me and I clearly didn't inform ...Read more
Family Betrayal Leaves No Room for Reconciliation
Dear Annie: For 32 years, I've been married to a wonderful partner who comes from a loving family. There was a crisis a year ago when my spouse was on business, and while they were working to get back home, our families stepped up to support us. A relative of my partner's showed particular concern, which surprised me. I care about this ...Read more

Asking Eric: College student struggles to keep friends
Dear Eric: I am a college student in my mid-20s, and I keep losing friends. Some friends have ghosted me, some got frustrated with me when I tried to figure out why they ended a friendship with me, and some have said that I talk about my problems too much, but they still want to be friends. One friend just lost their mom and told me what ...Read more
Should I Stop Confiding in a Friend Who Dismisses My Problems?
Dear Annie: I was out having lunch with a friend I've known for many years. We met when our children were babies; they are grown adults now.
We have only been meeting up once a week for lunch since April 2024, as we both have more time now that I have retired and she works part time.
The thing is, I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment....Read more

Asking Eric: New boyfriend thinks he’s the father, but he’s not
Dear Eric: I am two months pregnant, or so I thought. Three months ago, I met Steve at a concert. Our relationship developed quickly, and we became intimate after only a few weeks.
Steve is so excited about the baby. It would be his first. He has even offered to marry me as soon as possible.
When I went for a checkup the other day, the doctor ...Read more
Sister Won't Let Go of Caretaking
Dear Annie: How do I get across to a sibling that she can't order me to come and be a caretaker for our ailing mother? Mom is almost 92 and is recovering from a stroke. It has affected her vision, so there are many daily things she cannot do for herself. She no longer drives; her poor motor skills don't allow her to cook or handle hot items on...Read more
Single File: Love Partnership
The days are gone when women made financial clout the top requisite for serious interest in a man. No longer economically second-class (if not financially whole, or at least with more earning potential -- and hope -- than before), women are asking something different from men. They are beginning to insist that their love object actively nurture ...Read more

The problem with asking, 'Where are the men of my caliber?'
I work with a lot of amazing, successful women. A lot. And I am constantly impressed by these women’s tenacity, drive and achievements. Most have made their financial wealth on their own and are very proud of that, as they should be. But with this success sometimes comes difficulty in finding a partner. Why is this?
As a recent example, I ...Read more

Ask Anna: Is sexting cheating? Navigating digital infidelity
Dear Anna,
I've been with my boyfriend for a little over a year and recently found that he has been sexting strangers (single women and couples) on an app the entire time we’ve been together. When I found out I felt hurt, not just from the sexting but also because he has refused to sext with me ever. And he rarely initiates sex with me, and ...Read more

Asking Eric: Decades after divorce, second wife wants to share the truth with children
Dear Eric: My husband has been deceased for nearly a decade. Recently, I was going through his leftover files. For years he insisted that his ex-wife had lied to his children, telling them that he abandoned the family, didn't want the children and never paid child support. I have found letters, from 60 years ago, that his lawyer sent to him ...Read more
Struggling With Screen Time
Dear Annie: I never thought I had a screen time problem until my daughter called me out. The other night, we were sitting on the couch together, and she was excitedly telling me about her day. Without thinking, I picked up my phone to check a notification. She stopped mid-sentence and sighed, "Never mind, you're not even listening." That hit ...Read more

Asking Eric: Parents are worried about 31-year-old son who hasn’t moved out
Dear Eric: My son, who is 31, still lives at home. He is a great person and is not antisocial. He has a job that doesn’t pay much. I want him to start his own life. I push him to get a better job so that he can afford to live on his own, but he is very resistant to my pleas.
His mother and I are so worried that he is missing out on life. I ...Read more
The Hidden Struggles of Nurses: Voices from the Frontlines
Dear Readers: So many of you wrote in about the nurse column, and I truly appreciate your feedback and your service. Nursing is one of the most vital professions, and nurses deserve both respect and protection for the critical work they do.
Below are two perspectives from fellow nurses.
Dear Annie: As a fellow veteran nurse, I wanted to ...Read more

Asking Eric: Husband keeps kicking wife out of their house
Dear Eric: I have been in a relationship with my partner for six years. We have two young daughters. The first year was really rough; he was in active addiction, and we lived homeless in my car, in a disgusting motel and even slept outside in the winter. After a few jail trips and two rehab trips, he finally got sober and has been for almost ...Read more
When Love Languages Don't Match
Dear Annie: I've been married to a wonderful man for seven years, and we have a strong, loving relationship. However, after Valentine's Day, I found myself feeling a bit sad.
In all our years together, my husband has never given me flowers -- not for Valentine's Day, our anniversary or any other special occasion. Gifts, in general, don't seem...Read more

Asking Eric: Relative judges family members who sell drugs
Dear Eric: I don’t consider myself a “square” but I’m having a hard time reconciling some relationships. My cousin‘s family now owns a weed store and even sells THC-infused food they can consume while in the store. My good friend did LSD at her son‘s wedding. I feel very judgmental about their choices, and I don’t know if I should ...Read more
When Resentment Creeps In: Learning to Choose Better
Dear Annie: I'm a 64-year-old woman, and I have a wonderful boyfriend whom I love deeply. We've been together for over a year, and he's a kind, loving man who happens to be on dialysis. I take care of him, and while I don't resent it, it does make life more complicated. I've also been through a lot -- 35 years of marriage that ended in divorce...Read more

Asking Eric: Couple reaches stalemate over divorce
Dear Eric: I told my husband I was done in our marriage during a marriage-counseling session close to nine months ago. This was our second round of marriage counseling. I have also done some therapy on my own. I have not taken any actions to indicate I'm done other than to occasionally remind my husband that I'm the one that wants out when he ...Read more
Toxic Co-Worker Ruins Retirement Job
Dear Annie: I retired early from a stressful job about a year ago and now work part-time in an office with one other full-time secretary who started at the same time I did. She pushes most of the work onto me while she spends most of her day on her cellphone or shopping online. When my work is done, I sometimes use my phone for personal tasks,...Read more