Life Advice
/Health
Man Makes Plans With Widow Neighbor While Wife Works
DEAR ABBY: A married couple we met six years ago had a vacation house near ours. We became friendly and would have dinners and drinks and hang out together doing various fun activities. Once her husband passed, it was just the three of us.
When I'm not in the area of our vacation house and my husband is, he thinks it's still appropriate to do ...Read more
Husband's Stuff Isn't The Only Thing Building Up At Home
DEAR ABBY: My sister and I grew up with our father after our parents divorced. He was a hoarder. Years later, when he finally had to move out, it took three moving trucks to empty the two-bedroom house. You can imagine what that was like. I am very triggered by clutter. I appreciate an organized home with space to breathe.
My husband of 10 ...Read more
Couple Have Divergent Views About Punctuality
DEAR ABBY: A friend retired, moved and gave me her well-paying, once-a-week job doing industrial cleaning. It pays a sizable chunk of our bills. My husband, who agreed to work with me doing this, gives me a hard time every week by being late.
We need to be there after business hours at 5:30 p.m. so we don't interrupt anyone while they're ...Read more
Husband Can't Be Bothered To Help With Wife's Needs
DEAR ABBY: I recently scheduled a last-minute consultation with my doctor that might result in surgery. My husband has a meeting during that time, which isn't actually necessary, but he feels he needs to attend. I feel he is choosing a non-urgent obligation over my more immediate concerns.
All that said, I am capable of handling what comes my ...Read more
Family Members Don't Support Transgender Relative
DEAR ABBY: My young adult child came out to us as transgender several months ago. My husband and I, along with her sibling, are supportive and love her unconditionally.
She recently decided to share the news with her grandparents, sending a heartfelt email along with a couple of resources specifically for grandparents. One grandparent has been ...Read more
Co-Workers' Fight Jolts Multiple Relationships
DEAR ABBY: I've been seeing a man, "Barry," who worked with my younger brother. They had an altercation at work, and Barry was terminated for misconduct. My brother, "Rob," is upset with me because I still see him. Barry did reach out to Rob to apologize and see if they could move on. While my brother has forgiven Barry, he has chosen to have no...Read more
Wife Is Now Fearful About Being Pregnant
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for two years, together for five. He's a wonderful man I love dearly. I always felt called to be a mother, and he has expressed the same about being a father. He would be an incredible father, and I'd love nothing more than to raise children with him.
The conflict is that, over the past year or so, ...Read more
Helpful Neighbor Draws The Line At Socializing
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I retired a few years ago to a neighborhood where most of the residents are our age, and we have become friendly with the widow next door. My husband and I help her out with any minor home issues she runs into and some light gardening. We are happy to do this. She and I also occasionally get together for coffee.
She ...Read more
Partner Of Pregnant Woman Backs Out Of Trip Abroad
DEAR ABBY: Should I be mad at the father of my unborn child for not coming with me to travel out of the country? My cousin is being married in Mexico. However, my partner, "Gabriel," isn't going because one of his good friends is getting married the same weekend.
We found out only recently that I am pregnant, and by the time my cousin's wedding...Read more