ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My mother died when I was 5, and I grew up in a very abusive childhood -- abuse in every sense of the word. I'm still traumatized over my childhood and I am now 65.

I ended up in what I thought was a great relationship in my early 20s and thought he loved me. I ended up getting pregnant, and he wanted no part of it. He left, and I...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister expects me to make my son and his friends spend time with her son. Our sons are in their early 20s and used to spend a lot of time together when they were younger. Her son, whom I love very much, is on the autism spectrum and had some emotional regulation issues as a child and teenager. Now, as a young adult, he has much ...Read more

A reader (bless her!) has passed along practical tips for your online hunt (that's what it is, no?) for a friend/lover/life partner. And, believe me, yours truly is paying close attention -- very close indeed:

CHOOSE A DATING WEBSITE: It's a good idea to try more than one because they vary so much in the number of members in your area, as well ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 58 years old and have seven grandchildren who mean the world to me. One of my sons, however, only seems to reach out when he needs me to watch his kids. I adore spending time with them -- they're all under 5 -- and I don't mind helping out at all. I have serious health issues, so every moment with them is precious. I hope to ...Read more

Dear Annie: My daughter took in some kittens that a mama cat delivered on her property. She was very selective about who she would give them to and wound up only finding a home for one of them. She decided to keep two of the kittens, along with her existing two cats, which left three without homes. She kept them for seven months and then ...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you all a very happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day!

I thought it would be a good time to find some impactful quotes from presidential inaugural speeches and from King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I found quotes that inspire, unify and motivate audiences toward a shared vision for the nation. Comparing ...Read more

I'm the wifely stereotype in one aspect: I'm the one in the relationship who lets their car decay and slightly hides it from their spouse for as long as they can. Just until we have to swap cars because his gets better gas mileage for a trip. That's when I have to spill the beans: My heater stopped working, the brakes have gotten squeakier, and ...Read more

Dear Annie: After nine years of waiting for him to propose, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and popped the question myself. His response? He said he'd need to "see what his finances look like" -- and then a week later, he broke up with me via text.

Looking back, it's painfully clear: If he doesn't ask, he doesn't want to. ...Read more

Dear Annie: I just wanted to say thank you for keeping an open mind.

I've noticed that, on different occasions, readers sometimes challenge you or want to "add to" some of your answers based on their education or personal experiences.

You are willing to keep an open mind and welcome the input. For that, I say, BRAVO!

Of course, not all of the...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a very dear friend who is like family. I am 20 years older than she is, and at times I feel more like a surrogate mother than a big sister.

I know she has mental health problems, including anger management, trust issues, obsessive-compulsive disorder and, at times, I think, narcissistic tendencies. But she truly is a good ...Read more