ArcaMax

Dear Eric: I’ve been with my husband for 25 years. Twenty of those years I spent being a mother and a grandmother and a full-time employee. I had a nervous breakdown after my second child passed away from illness and I wanted to move away, but not with my husband. He insisted on coming. But ultimately, I did not find another position and ended...Read more

Dear Anna,

I’m a 38-year-old woman and recently reconnected with my ex-boyfriend from college, who’s now 40. We dated for two years when we were 22 and 24, and it was intense and meaningful before life pulled us in different directions.

We’ve been back together for about five months now, and he’s everything I remembered, except for one...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Chris Summers was born in South Philly and raised by her grandmother and her mother. She knew she was supposed to get married, but she never felt exactly like the people around her.

The main sticking point was sex: she didn’t want to have it, yet she still longed for romantic companionship.

”I really crave connection and ...Read more

If you’ve ever wondered, when dating someone, “How do I express my needs and then decide if it’s a relationship I still want to be in?” I have a framework I’d like you to consider: The Tree of Needs.

You’ll have to use your imagination for this one and picture a tree. At the top, we have your need, whatever that may be. On the next...Read more

Dear Eric: I became friends with one of my oldest and closest friends when we were 9 years old.

In the last three years, it has been nearly impossible to see her. I routinely sent her text messages and voicemails asking if she wanted to get together. I finally resorted to sending her a message on Facebook.

I was very surprised with her ...Read more

Dear Eric: My 92-year-old father and my 66-year-old brother live together in another state. My father lives at home, is completely functional, drives and can take care of himself. My brother is independent and takes trips frequently.

My issue is visiting them, something I feel like I need/want to do on a regular basis. Their house is livable, ...Read more

Dear Eric: About 10 years back, I became the primary caretaker for our mother, even though there are five other siblings scattered throughout the country. She resides at a high-level care assisted-living facility nearby, is a healthy 99, but has some significant dementia.

I’m visiting one or two times a week and also take her to all her ...Read more

Dear Eric: My fiancé and I are facing an impasse regarding the guest list for our upcoming wedding. I want to exclude his brother's (the best man) wife from the invitation list.

She consistently refuses to engage with me socially, going no further than a brief "hi." There has been no conflict; she simply does not converse with me. Although, if...Read more

Dear Eric: I'm not sure what to do about my deceased father's best friend. My father’s friend is currently 86 years old. I had hoped that he could fill me in on who my father was. My father was barely in my life; he left my brother and I with a horribly abusive mother.

Well, this gentleman "Hank" will take anything that I say and one-ups me. ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have been taking dance classes from the same instructor for years. There are a number of us students who would like to see more technique, as opposed (or in addition) to more steps, taught as some dance styles rely heavily on technique (West Coast Swing is an example).

We really enjoy the classes and the instructor's commitment to ...Read more

Dear Anna,

My girlfriend and I have been together for four years, and we’re constantly fighting about alone time. We both work full time but on different schedules. When she gets home from work, she immediately disappears into the bedroom for at least an hour — sometimes longer — to “decompress.” She insists this isn’t personal and ...Read more