Life Advice
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Should Hosts Cover Costs?
Dear Annie: My 12-year-old son goes over to his friend's house now and then. His friend lives in a small town that is walking distance to ice cream shops, markets and delis. Whenever my son visits, his friend's mom will ask me to send him with cash for lunch or dinner or Venmo her money.
Whenever we have his friends over, we provide the food ...Read more
Asking Eric: Daughter living the high life while mom struggles
Dear Eric: I’m a 52-year-old mother and grandmother. My daughter and granddaughter live with me due to some bad life choices my daughter has made. It’s very clear to me that being a mother is not high on her priority list nor does she have the energy or motivation to step up.
I have basically become a mother again as I tend to my ...Read more
Overbearing In-Laws
Dear Annie: "John," my 40-year-old fiance (only child) has boundary issues with his parents. They come over to his house approximately five days per week. The pretext is that they walk his dog. But here's the thing: John works a cushy job from home. (Walk your own dog!) Here's the other thing: they don't just walk the dog. They load the ...Read more
Single File: Life Engineering
A book reviewer recently called "Single File" an advanced course in Life Engineering, and the name fits like a glove! Because once you tune in to the opportunity that comes with singleness, you become Chairman of the Board, responsible for every decision big and small. Once you get the hang of life unpartnered -- and, yes, these are times of ...Read more
Is Bumble's 'Opening Move' feature a good thing?
Earlier this year, Bumble unveiled a new feature dubbed “Opening Moves.” While the popular online dating app previously stood out for only letting women send the first message after a match, the update allows female users to set a question, either from Bumble's preset examples or their own idea, for matches to respond to. For example: “Who...Read more
Ask Anna: WFH wardrobe clashes and when to stop replying on dating apps
Dear Anna,
I’ve been working from home for the past year, and like a lot of people, my go-to attire has been pretty relaxed — think joggers, comfy tees and sometimes even PJs if I’m being honest. It’s been a huge adjustment, but I’ve loved the comfort of dressing casually while working from my home office. Recently, though, my ...Read more
Asking Eric: Husband’s sister invades social plans
Dear Eric: My sister-in-law’s husband passed away several years ago. Over the years, my husband and I only saw them occasionally for holidays. A year after her husband passe d away, she suddenly announced that she would be moving back to her hometown where we reside.
She purchased a home in a 55+ community 15 minutes from our home. As a ...Read more
Lost Connection
Dear Annie: A lifelong friend of mine moved to Utah a little over a year ago with a man twice her age. They met in a similar career field and travel together. She has been helping take care of his 10-year-old son.
We were best friends all of our childhood, and even as we got older, we remained close to varying degrees. Before she left, she ...Read more
Asking Eric: Daughter suspicious of mom’s ‘tax benefit’ wedding
Dear Eric: My mom and her partner have been together for 20 years. This winter, my mom informed me that, upon the advice of their financial adviser, they’d be getting married this year.
I have zero issues or concerns about the man she’s marrying, but knowing the reason is based on a financial “nudge” for tax bracket purposes, insurance ...Read more
Reckless on the Road
Dear Annie: My grandmother and I are very close. She is 83 years old and super independent. She loves to keep busy and is always running around town.
I'm writing to you because I need your advice on how to get through to her. I'm worried about her driving. She has always driven like a "cowboy." She speeds and is very impatient on the road.
...Read more
Asking Eric: Husband ‘just chatting’ on Facebook dating site
Dear Eric: I recently discovered my husband was messaging/talking to three women through the dating portion of Facebook. I saw messages on his phone from one woman and a phone call for 44 minutes.
I confronted him and he said he was trying to learn how to communicate and he was not cheating.
I decided that if he thought this was OK, then it ...Read more
Wedding Woes
Dear Annie: I grew up with my mom. My father and I have always had a strained relationship. He is a recovering alcoholic. He says she wouldn't let me see him, but I remember him forgetting my birthday, promising to visit but not showing and telling me he's too busy. He once left me sitting on a doorstep, fully dressed for a father-daughter ...Read more
Asking Eric: Husband’s forgetfulness causes anxiety
Dear Eric: I'm in my late 50s, my husband is in his early 70s. While he's always been incredibly intelligent, he has also always had a very poor memory. We believe he might also have ADHD.
As he's aged, his memory and decision-making has worsened. Several years ago, we had him baselined by a neuropsychologist, then re-evaluated twice. His ...Read more
Passport Pitfalls
Dear Annie: My wife and I had planned to visit Europe this summer with our daughter and two grandchildren. When we checked in with the airline and gave them our passports, at JFK Airport in New York, they would not let me board the plane because my passport -- perfectly valid -- was due to expire in one month.
They said the country we were ...Read more
Asking Eric: Dying brother doesn’t want to reunite
Dear Eric: I am 75; my brother is three years older. I’m dying of Stage 4 renal cancer that has metastasized. Before that, I tried many ways and many times to explain why I didn't like spending time with him.
I don't like the person he is. I didn't like his parenting that was demeaning to his adopted son, nor that he said my stepchildren ...Read more
Struggling With Girlfriend's Hidden Past
Dear Annie: I've been in a committed relationship with my girlfriend, "Sarah," for three years. We live together and have been discussing marriage. However, I recently discovered something that's left me feeling confused and betrayed.
While cleaning out our closet, I stumbled upon a hidden stash of letters and mementos from her ex-boyfriend, ...Read more
Asking Eric: Friends grew distant after stroke
Dear Eric: I had a stroke in 2017. My husband passed away in 2022. This stroke was quite debilitating for me. I could not walk, sit up or stand.
Little by little, I’ve regained some abilities through hard work and therapy. I still can’t walk at all unless I have an orthotic device on.
My husband was wonderful in so many ways after my ...Read more
Toxic Tension With In-Laws
Dear Annie: My wife's family ignores me and does not speak to me at any family events.
Her sister was visiting us in early 2024. We were driving to a synagogue event in my wife's honor. In the car, her sister told me that I was not allowed to say anything to her. I replied that it was my car and I can speak to whom I choose. She cursed me out...Read more
Asking Eric: Friend fears financial help will bruise pride
Dear Eric: I grew up in a degree of poverty. Most of my friends have done "OK" financially.
All of us but one is now retired and she is hoping to retire soon at age 73. She's continued to work as she's worried about not having sufficient funds during retirement. The other two have to pinch pennies a bit and many decisions are made based upon ...Read more
Protecting Family Bonds
Dear Annie: I have been divorced for 11 years. I have two daughters in their 20s, living mostly at home, and I just started dating a few years back. I was in a two-year relationship that I ended (because, among other reasons, he wanted me to spend all my weekends at his place), and I went back online and met the new Mr. last May.
We seemed to...Read more
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