ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I recently planned a weekend trip out of town, and we arranged for our children to stay with their aunt, my husband's sister, while we were away. We thought everything was going well until, halfway through our trip, we received a call from her saying that one of our kids had started acting out. She told us that she...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been swamped with work. I work in a high-demand environment and have recently been securing a number of new high-end clients. This means early days, late nights and busy lunches. My girlfriend is not happy with how rigorous my work schedule has been these past few months; she's expressed it to me, but I haven't had time to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have always prioritized my credit. For our entire relationship, I have known that my fiance has been working on improving his credit, eliminating debts and being more fiscally responsible. Months ago, when he proposed to me, some of my fears came up and we discussed that I'd be more comfortable with a wedding date that's ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom is gearing up for her next big step in life -- RETIREMENT! She couldn't be more excited, and my siblings and I are so happy for her.

So much has been going on in my own life, it didn't cross my mind to plan a proper celebration for her. Earlier this week, my older sister reached out and asked if we should throw a shindig,...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I are roommates. No one told me this might be a risky decision, but I guess I'm learning the hard way. Sometimes she can be moody, and when she gets that way, everyone is subject to her heavy, somber, icy energy. It can be draining. If she has a bad day, she can't conceal it. Maybe she thinks she is hiding it ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Since I was young, I've found that I've always had strange anxiety-induced habits -- pulling at the edges of my hair, sucking my thumb, picking at scabs, etc. Over time, I'd find a solution, or I'd just sort of grow out of it. At present, I scratch the insides of my palms when I'm nervous, stressed or frustrated. I think I may do...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend and I were watching a reality show where contestants try to find love. At one point, we got into a friendly debate about whether one of the couples on the show was genuinely in love. She was convinced that they were, while I had my doubts and said I didn't think their connection seemed all that real. What started as a ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I find myself in some kind of an adversarial situation with my partner of 11 years almost every day. I say left, and he says right. I have an idea, and he shuts it down. It almost doesn't matter what we are talking about; if I say something, he looks at me with disgust on his face and shoots down whatever words come out of my ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my close friends has recently started gaining a lot of attention on social media, especially on TikTok. She's gotten popular almost overnight, and ever since then, things have changed between us. She used to be someone I could talk to every day; we'd text, call, hang out and just be there for each other. Now, she barely ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband's birthday is coming up soon, and I'm torn about how to handle it. Last year, on my birthday, he completely forgot it was even happening until the evening. I tried to brush it off, but it really hurt. When he finally remembered, he quickly suggested we go out to eat, and we ended up at Chili's. Don't get me wrong -- I ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: As parents, I'm sure most of us have experienced a squabble or disagreement between our kids. I definitely have, but they're usually short-lived. Currently, two of my girls aren't speaking and haven't been for a few months. This all started because my older daughter made a joke about me owing her back pay because my younger ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 17-year-old daughter recently got into a car accident. Thankfully, she wasn't seriously hurt, but the car was totaled. After talking to her about what happened, it became clear that the accident was due to her not paying attention: She was distracted, and it cost her.

Now that the dust has settled, she's asking my husband and...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've worked in the entertainment industry for a while now, and with that comes a lot of work with adjacent industries like beauty and fashion. A friend of mine admires the work I do. They've had a longtime interest in leaving the corporate world to pursue modeling full-time, and they currently model on the side. When I share ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Out of nowhere, my mom confided in me that she never really enjoyed being a mother. She said that since I am 45 years old, she feels like she can finally be honest about it. She told me she loves me and my siblings, but the day-to-day experience of raising us was overwhelming and exhausting. She said working full-time and then ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: A few weeks ago, my cat went missing. I put up flyers around the neighborhood, posted on local social media pages and walked around calling her name. Then, a few days ago, I spotted her sitting in my neighbor's window just two houses down. I'm absolutely certain it's her: same markings, same collar, and when she saw me, she ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I ran into a woman I went to school with many years ago. When we saw each other, she reached out to hug me immediately and express her joy at reconnecting. I had no idea who she was! It turns out that more than 40 years ago we were at the same school and participated in a performance together. She remembers it vividly; I do not. ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister and I have always been close, but lately, things have become tense between us, and it's all because of our kids. Her son and my daughter go to the same school and are in the same grade. Recently, they've been having a lot of problems getting along. There's been name-calling, rumors and a couple of arguments that even ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Over the past year, I've gained a significant amount of weight, and it's been difficult for me emotionally and mentally. I've become extremely self-conscious about how I look -- to the point where I sometimes avoid social situations altogether. I feel like I'm constantly comparing myself to the person I used to be, and I don't ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My oldest daughter is preparing to head to college in the fall. She has worked so hard over the years -- as a student and as a sister. Her father and I spent a lot of our time working, and she picked up the slack with her two younger siblings. She never complained and always made us proud with her grades and her kind heart. She's...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have the opportunity to take a job where my friend will be my boss. I've never worked in an environment with someone I was friends with prior to working with them, and I don't often make a habit of becoming close friends with co-workers. I'm a bit wary.

This friend of mine is someone I have known since middle school. Our ...Read more