Life Advice
/Health
Family Refuses To Help Relative Who Once Helped Them
DEAR ABBY: Eight years ago, my wife's nephew needed a car. His parents had poor credit at that time. I took him to a car dealer, where he found a car, and I didn't hesitate to cosign the loan. He paid the loan off on time.
I am now in financial difficulty, and one possibility for me would be to refinance my car loan. When I suggested the nephew...Read more
Bride Wants Mother And Aunt To Walk Her Down The Aisle
DEAR ABBY: My 25-year-old niece is getting married in four months. Five years ago, she lost her father in a tragic accident while her parents were on vacation. Since that time, she has come out as gay and grown closer to me than to her mom (my sister).
I was always close to my sister and both of her daughters while they were growing up and ...Read more
Husband's Drug Habit And Lies Push Wife Toward The Exit
DEAR ABBY: I've been married to my husband for 30 years. For the past five years, I've noticed that he is acting a little different. He's lost a lot of weight. I found out he's been smoking drugs. He had this problem years ago, and I thought we had it beat. But now I'm getting the impression that maybe you can't ever beat it.
My daughter gave ...Read more
Violence, Dishonesty Are Dark Omens For Couple's Marriage
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have not had sex for the last four years. I'm not a perfect husband. I have made my share of mistakes -- not always telling the truth, texting other women -- and she has her share of imperfections as well. She has hit me on more than one occasion. She has also pulled a gun on me and stole $1,400. And yet, I find myself ...Read more
Man Tries To Force Social Media On His Unplugged Wife
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have very different approaches to social media; He's all in, and I'm all out. I don't "do" the internet. I don't have Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat and whatever else people are using these days. I quit using social media five years ago when I realized how much it was contributing to my stress. Leaving it behind has...Read more
Woman's Poor Choices Impact Health Of Aging Mother
DEAR ABBY: I am a healthy older woman living alone in a building for seniors. I've known some of my neighbors most of my life. I consider us like a family.
My problem is, my 49-year-old daughter, "Jasmine," has been a pill addict for the last 20 years. I've tried repeatedly to help her. I've begged to get her to go to counseling, but she won't....Read more
Man's Need For Speed Makes Wife Want To Hit The Brakes
DEAR ABBY: My husband is an adrenaline junkie who loves high speeds and fast cars. I am the opposite. I hate riding in fast cars, on roller coasters or anything adrenaline-related. I have explained to him many times that I don't enjoy going fast in his super-fast car, yet he keeps asking me to go with him. I'll do it sometimes, but I hate it. If...Read more
Close Relationship With Stepdad Makes Spouse Uncomfortable
DEAR ABBY: My mom and stepdad ("Hugh") are divorcing after 20 years of marriage. Mom has been involved with scammers for the last two years, giving away money and her Social Security number. I no longer talk to her because of this. She actually expected me to drive her places to meet these men and lend them her money!
My stepdad and I started ...Read more
Son's Public Outburst Sparks Bitter Feud With Father
DEAR ABBY: My wife of 47 years passed away 16 months ago after living with a disability for many years. I took care of her until the end and loved her with all my heart. Nine months after her passing, I became involved with another woman my age.
I have two sons, 43 and 46. My younger son and my contemporaries are happy that I have found someone...Read more
Husband's New Boyfriend Leaves Wife Fearing For Marriage
DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Leon," and I have been together for 13 years. He is bisexual -- gay-leaning. I knew this when we got together. I am 51, and Leon is 32. We still love each other deeply, but he is also in a relationship with a man. His boyfriend is 21. We have an 11-year-old daughter together, and I have two grown kids from a previous ...Read more
Car Alarm Repeatedly Wakes Up Sleeping Neighbors
DEAR ABBY: I'm fortunate that most of my neighbors are kind and considerate. We've all enjoyed sharing each other's celebrations. However, there's one family among the five households that we've never managed to connect with on a personal level. Despite our efforts, such as giving gifts and food, they have always been unresponsive. While there's...Read more
Dad Is Worried For Daughter On The Verge Of Adulthood
DEAR ABBY: I am a single parent of two girls. My oldest, "Becca," is 17. She has been dating this guy and, as soon as she graduates, plans to move in with him and two of his friends (another couple). What worries me is that their relationship is pretty toxic. They are always fighting. I have begged her not to move in with him, but she won't ...Read more
Mother-In-Law Has Been Couple's Roommate For 14 Years
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been happily married for 15 years. My mother-in-law, "Pat," a widow since 1997, has lived with us for the last 14 years. She lived alone in her own apartment when my wife and I first were married but was going through bouts of depression. I initially extended the offer to her to live with us until she got through ...Read more
Alcoholic Wants To Be In The Room For Grandchild's Birth
DEAR ABBY: I am an adult child of an alcoholic. My mother is a mean drunk. While growing up, I had to act as her therapist and deal with her co-dependency. I have been lucky to have processed a lot of the trauma in therapy and to have a loving and healthy family of my own now. We actively avoid Mom after 3 p.m. because I don't want my kids ...Read more
Man's Delusions Put Brother In A Difficult Spot
DEAR ABBY: My younger brother, "Paul," is 40 and in a rut. He became friends with a friend of mine, "Mitch," whom I met in college. Paul also became good friends with Mitch's wife, "Iris." After a year of close friendship, my brother made a pass at Mitch's wife during a BBQ. He was promptly asked to leave, and they have ceased contact with him. ...Read more
Friendship With Co-Worker Fades As Aspirations Diverge
DEAR ABBY: I had a close friendship with a co-worker. We used to have lunch together and shared many personal and intimate stories. We were the two work newbies, even though I started six months before he did.
He has adapted well in the work environment, but I'm still struggling with different personalities and communication styles. Because he'...Read more
Two Decades Have Not Healed Painful Breach In Relationship
DEAR ABBY: Twenty years ago, I developed psychosis with a personality change. I did things I'm ashamed of. I had an affair, remarried and moved out of the country, leaving my 13-year-old daughter with my ex-husband. I snapped out of it 15 years ago with the help of a good psychiatrist and excellent medication. I deeply regret my behavior, and I ...Read more
Woman's Surprise Revelation Is Bewildering To Relative
DEAR ABBY: I received a Facebook message from my first cousin. In it, she apologized for not communicating for the past 10 months. It ended with, "Send me your address so I can send you a birth announcement." Abby, I wasn't even aware that she had been pregnant.
I contacted her father, who said the child was born two months ago. This cousin is ...Read more
Time At Shared Vacation Home Is The Opposite Of Relaxing
DEAR ABBY: We share a vacation home with another family. My husband and I are neat people. The other family is the opposite. They leave dirty dishes in the sink for days, promising, "I'll get to them." Dirty diapers are left on the living room floor as well as toys, clothes and stale food. It's disgusting.
My husband and I clean up after them, ...Read more
Staying Strong After Breakup Is An Intimidating Process
DEAR ABBY: I was dating a man for the past two years. Most of the time, we enjoyed being together. However, sometimes our discussions would turn into heated and hurtful arguments. He would disregard my point of view, ultimately shut me down and make me feel like the disagreement was my fault.
After our most recent argument, I finally decided to...Read more