Life Advice
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Relationship With Younger Man Reaches Crucial Point
DEAR ABBY: I was with the same person (my first "everything" guy) for 23 years. A few years after the shock of a divorce, I met someone 10 years my junior. He makes me feel I'm the most beautiful woman in the world, complimenting on what my ex considered my faults, showing I am still a sexy, desirable woman and making me feel like I matter in ...Read more
Asking Eric: Wife to stepdaughter – ‘this is war’
Dear Eric: My wife and our 6-year-old daughter went to the wedding of my older daughter from a prior marriage. My wife and daughter have always had a rocky relationship. My younger daughter was a flower girl, and she was asked not to wear a tiara. My wife gave me lots of arguments as to why my daughter should be allowed to wear a tiara. My older...Read more
Apartment-Dweller Feels Stifled By Neighbor's Complaints
DEAR HARRIETTE: I moved into a new apartment building recently, and while I love the location and my unit, I've been having a tricky time with one of my neighbors. They frequently leave passive-aggressive notes about noise, even when I'm careful to keep my music low and avoid loud activities. Sometimes the notes feel exaggerated or unfair, and ...Read more
No Photos, Please
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I occasionally enjoy having lunch at a restaurant with a group of longtime friends. All is well until the time comes when they want to take a group photo, which, of course, gets posted on Facebook.
I do not post on social media. I do not want my life, in words nor photos, posted. So I quietly say I'll back out of camera range...Read more
The Weight of Sharing a Diagnosis
Dear Annie: I've recently been diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer. The prognosis isn't good, but right now I feel OK and haven't changed my daily life. My husband is here for me, and we are considering possible treatment plans.
I haven't told my daughter yet. Truthfully, I don't know how. She has newborn twins and a 6-year-old daughter. ...Read more
Boyfriend's Adult Daughter Seems To Be Calling The Shots
DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a man for 2 1/2 years. He's divorced; I am a widow. We get along well and enjoy many activities together. The problem is his 31-year-old daughter. She is very rude and unkind to me. He tells me it is not me; she would treat any female companion of his this way.
With the holidays approaching, I spoke to him about ...Read more
Ask Anna: My boyfriend was sexting an AI -- is it cheating?
Dear Anna,
I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost two years. He’s a total tech guy — the kind who buys every new gadget, talks to his smart home like it’s a pet, and stays way too late tinkering with AI tools “just to see what they can do.” I’ve always thought it was kind of endearing, if occasionally exhausting.
But last month, ...Read more
Ask Anna: My boyfriend was sexting an AI -- is it cheating?
Dear Anna,
I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost two years. He’s a total tech guy — the kind who buys every new gadget, talks to his smart home like it’s a pet, and stays way too late tinkering with AI tools “just to see what they can do.” I’ve always thought it was kind of endearing, if occasionally exhausting.
But last month, ...Read more
Asking Eric: Neighbor is friendly but drives drunk
Dear Eric: I have an alcoholic neighbor with whom I am friendly. We do minor favors for each other. I am aware that he drinks and drives home from a nearby bar, which I have issues about. He drives a shuttle for airport crews and others, and I don't believe he drinks before he does those rides. But he frequents the bar often, and then drives ...Read more
Busy Friend Gets Angry When Left Out Of Plans
DEAR HARRIETTE: This year has been extremely busy for me and my core friend group. No matter how much we try, it seems like every time we try to pick a time we can all be available to catch up and do something together, we fail. I recognize that being busy is not always something people can change, but still, isn't it important to make time for ...Read more
I'd Like A Family Wedding, But Hold The Family, Please
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few of my cousins have gotten married recently, and they requested that no children attend their weddings, aside from the ones performing the roles of ring bearer and flower girl.
This request would have been completely foreign when I was growing up. I have found the situation awkward, especially for family weddings, since ...Read more
Trust Withdrawn
Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 11 years, and we've always kept separate finances. It worked well until about a year ago, when he got laid off and started dipping into our joint emergency savings without telling me. I only found out when I went to pay our property taxes and the account was almost empty.
When I confronted ...Read more
Sister Halts Contact With Mom's Side Of The Family
DEAR ABBY: A few years ago, my uncle made a controversial comment about a social issue in my mom's family group text. The issue was important enough to my sister that she requested discussion about it cease because she didn't agree with what they were saying. When the discussion continued, she decided to cut Mom's family out of her life, taking ...Read more
Asking Eric: Niece grows distant from family after wedding
Dear Eric: My 35-year-old niece married a 45-year-old man with two teenage kids in a small ceremony. I have always been close with her. My sister and my niece have had a somewhat up-and-down relationship. They are each strong-willed.
But over the past 18 months since my niece met her now-husband, she has pretty much turned her back on her ...Read more
Employee's Job Disappears Alongside Dei Initiatives
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am one of the many people who have lost their job this year due to the pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion programs. I have an advanced degree and decades of experience in my field, and it doesn't seem to matter. I am having a difficult time finding work in this environment. What's worse is that some of my "friends...Read more
There Can Only Be One 'nonna'
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My ex-husband and I have been divorced for over 20 years. We see each other at family functions and are very cordial and polite with each other, as is his girlfriend, who also attends these events.
Neither of us has remarried. He has been in a relationship with this female for many years, but they don't live together.
When ...Read more
Sisters, Secrets and Starting Over
Dear Annie: A few months ago, my younger sister, "Kate," announced during dinner that she and her boyfriend were moving to Nashville to "start fresh." Everyone wished her well, but I was blindsided. What she didn't share was that she'd already told me she was leaving our family business -- the bakery our parents started 30 years ago and that ...Read more
Sister Flips Out Over Intended Name For Unborn Nephew
DEAR ABBY: I am pregnant with the first-born grandson on both sides. My husband and I plan to use my husband's middle name for our son's first name and my father's middle name for his middle name. My father is "the III" but has no sons, so we thought this would be a way to honor him and represent my side of the family.
My sister is the first ...Read more
Single File: Agree or Disagree? (Part 1)
Here's another quiz for your enjoyment. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
--Being single means being alone and lonely.
--Single women have a tougher time than single men.
--Men don't want the same things from a relationship as women.
--All women should marry and have children.
--A woman is incomplete without a man.
--...Read more
Ask Dating Coach Erika: I feel him pulling away. What do I do?
We have a range of questions today, from hairpieces (!!) to the ghosting (hint: don’t do it) to someone slowly pulling back after a number of great dates.
Let’s get into it…
Q: On our third date, he admitted that he's bald and wears a hairpiece. Am I wrong to feel cheated?
A: If somebody does something to enhance their looks to make ...Read more
Inside Life Advice
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- Ask Anna: My boyfriend was sexting an AI -- is it cheating?
- Ask Dating Coach Erika: I feel him pulling away. What do I do?
- Ask Anna: I shut down in long-distance relationships -- how do I stay connected?






















