Life Advice
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Bridging the Gap With Daughters-in-Law
Dear Annie: My husband and I are the proud grandparents of two beautiful granddaughters. "Lila" is 20 months old and the daughter of our son "Michael" and his wife, "Emily." "Sophie" is 10 months old and the daughter of our other son "Daniel" and his wife, "Grace."
We love both girls dearly and feel so fortunate to have them in our lives. But...Read more

Asking Eric: Longtime professor lectures in casual conversation
Dear Eric: Our next-door neighbor is a longtime university professor who is well known in his field. We have been neighbors for many years, and we all get along well. He lives alone.
An irritating habit of his is to stop by and launch into long-winded stories about some mundane event in his present or past life or to pontificate about a current...Read more
When an Old Flame Won't Let Go
Dear Annie: I need advice on how to deal with a former fiance. We dated for nearly a year before getting engaged, but the engagement lasted only a few months. Once we were engaged, he began laying down expectations for our future: dinner on the table at 5, how many children we would have, even which promotions I should turn down at work. I am ...Read more
Millennial Life: In Bro We Do Not Trust
I've spent most of my career as a freelance writer being a generalist. You don't delve too much into one subject because, really, you can find an expert on a topic who would love to rattle on with acronyms for at least a solid hour.
It's been one of the privileges of journalism to meet with people who believe in your capacity to share their ...Read more

Asking Eric: New supervisor experiences workplace revolt
Dear Eric: I started a new job a year ago. I took over as a supervisor at a municipal agency and from an individual who was retiring and who is a friend of mine.
The position that I took over for had a number of employees who were retired and had part-time jobs. They were very loyal to him, and he let them do what they wanted as long as it got ...Read more
When Waiting for the 'Right Job' Goes Wrong
Dear Annie: My 23-year-old son graduated from college two years ago and has been unemployed ever since. He earned a degree in a competitive field but has not had any luck landing a job in his chosen profession. While we understand that finding the right opportunity can take time, we are growing increasingly concerned.
He refuses to consider ...Read more

Asking Eric: Family invites to shared holidays stopped coming abruptly
Dear Eric: My father’s side has always hosted holiday meals. We are all in our 60s and 70s. My parents are gone, and kids are in their 20s and 30s. My cousin has taken over and puts on a great celebration. With Covid and the death of her mother she did not host/invite us, which hurt our feelings because we enjoyed the time to see everyone.
I ...Read more
Caring for My Husband, Battling His Family
Dear Annie: I met my husband three years ago, about eight months after he lost his first wife of 20 years. Their marriage was often toxic, and she was very abusive toward him. After she passed, he was ready to move on.
Right away, I knew something wasn't right with my husband. In his mid-50s, he was having short-term memory issues, falling ...Read more

Asking Eric: Boyfriend’s eating habits make him less attractive
Dear Eric: I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for most of my 20s, and while I still love him, I find myself wondering if I am still attracted to him.
In the last few years, he has significantly stopped taking care of himself. As a very active and healthy person (I run marathons, bike, lift weights regularly, et cetera), I find it ...Read more
Left Out in Love
Dear Annie: My best friend recently started dating someone new, and ever since, she's become distant. We used to talk daily; now I'm lucky if she texts back within a week. When we do hang out, he always tags along, even for things we used to do just the two of us.
I'm happy she's found someone she likes, but I miss our friendship. I tried ...Read more

Ask Anna: Help! My partner always skips social gatherings and I'm tired of going alone
Dear Anna,
I've been with my boyfriend for over six years, and I'm exhausted from constantly attending family gatherings and social events alone while he stays home playing video games. Every wedding, birthday party or holiday celebration, I'm the only one without a partner while everyone else shows up as couples. I've started making excuses ...Read more

Asking Eric: Spanish-American tired of questions about heritage
Dear Eric: As a Spanish-American, my ancestors from Spain have resided in the United States since long before the first Thanksgiving.
When one acquaintance inquired about my origin, I assumed he meant the city I recently relocated from. He clarified by asking if I was from Guatemala. In a social context, that question is exclusively directed at...Read more
Trust, Space and Sisterly Grace
Dear Annie: My fiance, "Mark," and I have been together for four years and are set to get married next spring. We live together in a small house we bought last fall. For the most part, things are good. But lately, something's been bothering me.
Mark has a weekly "guys' night" every Thursday with his two best friends from college. It used to ...Read more
Love -- And All That Good Stuff
As long as we're on the subject of partnership in love -- aren't we always? -- and the difference it can make, this might just be the right time to look at what it is that's prodding you toward commitment. The most common reason, of course, is to banish loneliness forever. Many of us enter (and stay in) a relationship primarily to avoid being ...Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: What are my clients like?
I often get questions from friends and potential clients alike: “What are your clients like? How old are they? What kinds of things do they ask you?”
Let me let you in…
My client base is about 70% women and 30% men, ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-70s. But most are in their 30s, 40s and 50s. In general, I believe that women are more ...Read more

Asking Eric: Brother wants to travel together, but he talks too much
Dear Eric: My sister-in-law is ill and not expected to live much longer. My brother has already commented that he is looking forward to traveling with my wife and me after she passes since we have common interests (think golfing vacations) and all get along well.
The problem is he isn’t comfortable with silence, and he always has to be ...Read more
Parental Panic
Dear Annie: My father has always been a deeply anxious man. If there is nothing to worry about, he invents something. Growing up, this often meant high-stress evenings when my siblings or I were out with friends or running late. I still remember one night when my dad woke my mother in a panic, convinced my brother had been in an accident. She ...Read more

Asking Eric: Former co-worker ghosts decade-long friendship
Dear Eric: We are a group of three female former co-workers who have gathered regularly for 10 years to celebrate birthdays and Christmas. We have taken turns at each other’s homes and always had a nice time eating, laughing and reminiscing together.
This year, one member of our group ghosted the other two of us. She will not respond to ...Read more
Funerals and Feeling Forgotten
Dear Annie: I've always prided myself on being a good friend. I'm the one who shows up at weddings, baby showers, birthday parties and even moving day. I donate to friends' fundraisers, send thoughtful messages, and make the effort to call, check in and extend invitations. In short, I've always been there when it mattered.
But three months ...Read more

Asking Eric: Nephew’s ‘save the date’ came after vacation was paid for
Dear Eric: Several months ago, a group of friends and I planned a vacation trip for this coming fall. We pre-paid the hotel costs, all-inclusive fees and paid for round-trip airline tickets. A few weeks ago, I received a "save the date" postcard from my nephew and his fiancée.
The wedding will be held in a state fairly distant from where I ...Read more
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