Life Advice
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Uncle Has High Expectations For His Kids
DEAR HARRIETTE: My "Uncle Ron" raised his son and daughter all alone, and I think it was a struggle for him. Over the years, he put affection on the back burner and became results-driven. He did his best to make sure his children were A students, hard-working, well-behaved, well-spoken and aligned for success. I think his rigid parenting style ...Read more
Frequent Flyer Tired Of Elbow Jabs
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When flying, I often find myself subjected to the unintentional elbow jabs of my seatmate.
I always make a conscious effort to remain within the boundaries of my seat, carefully avoiding encroaching on anyone else's space. However, on my last flight, I was elbowed repeatedly while attempting to sleep. (For the record, I have ...Read more
Husband Holding Hostage My Birthday Gift
Dear Annie: I recently had my 50th birthday. My boyfriend and I have been dating for seven years, with a two-year break. His friend recently asked me if my boyfriend gave me a present from him. I hadn't received the present, so I didn't say anything to my boyfriend, hoping maybe time just got away from us and he forgot. It has been over six ...Read more

Ask Anna: How to handle conflict when your partner only wants to text
Dear Anna,
My girlfriend and I have been long distance for about a year, and one of the biggest points of tension between us is communication style. She only ever wants to text — she doesn’t like phone calls or FaceTime, even when we’re just catching up. The thing that really drives me up the wall, though, is that when we fight or need to...Read more

Asking Eric: Husband’s loud singing taxes marriage
Dear Eric: My husband sings at the top of his lungs to any song that is playing in a movie or a commercial or in the car or otherwise. It’s like nails on a chalkboard for me. I’ve tried telling him, but he takes offense. He tells me everyone tells him he has perfect pitch (he doesn’t), and it has come down to serious discord at times.
I ...Read more
Husband Is Convinced Spouse Cheated
DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I are going through a rough patch, and I just don't know what to do. He seems to believe that I am cheating on him.
This all started one night when I returned home pretty late from going out with a girlfriend who was visiting. It's rare that I stay out late drinking or partying. My spouse knew exactly where I was ...Read more
Just Parkour Around Hallway Conversations
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a college student who lives in the dormitories on campus. The hallways are average-sized -- about 5 feet wide -- and are never crowded, though residents often have conversations in the hall.
Often, two or more people will be leaning on opposite walls, making it impossible to go around the conversation. I always walk ...Read more
Sluggish Grandson Won't Get His Act Together
Dear Annie: I am at my wits' end. I don't know what to do for my 29-year-old grandson. He needs help, but I don't know how to help him.
This is what I call a wasted life. He has no motivation to better himself. He has been living at my house for five months. After he got here, he got fired, so he sat here until the end of July doing nothing but...Read more
Couple's Sex Life Has Changed After Medical Procedure
DEAR ABBY: My wife is the love of my life. She is, and always has been, my dream girl. We used to have sex three or four times a week, but since her hysterectomy, she no longer desires sex. She's OK with scheduling sex on a certain date, but most of the time she doesn't follow through because she doesn't think about it, and I feel unwanted and ...Read more
Dear Jon Letters
DEAR READERS: Do you think being me is easy? Do you think being behind a computer much of the day -- pounding out advice meant to be helpful -- is all fun and games? Well, think again. Just recently, some pretty strong stuff came my way from online readers (creators.com) who were simply delighted to have a chance to vent. Their reactions follow....Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: When is it time to take a dating break?
I was searching for a client on Match.com recently, looking for men in her age range who she might like to send a message to, and I came across this profile:
“I’m tired of being rejected on this site by conceited, snobbish women who proclaim they are looking for an honest, humorous man, when in reality all they are really looking for is a ...Read more

Asking Eric: Son’s new girlfriend has a rude way of joking
Dear Eric: My son is 35 and his new girlfriend of three months is 32. They're both very smart. They are both very well educated. She's funny. She's smart. I really enjoy my time with her except for when she falls into these pits where she talks about him like he's not there and puts him down. She says things like “Well, I told your son to do ...Read more
Depressed Reader Gets Angry At Clueless Friend
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been struggling with what feels like depression. I've never experienced these long periods of sadness, isolation and laziness before, but for the past year, I've been in a season of hardship, battling unemployment and other life changes.
The other day, a close friend of mine broke down crying about how horrible she felt ...Read more
Will Somebody Please Clean Up This Coffee?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live in a four-family apartment building in a middle-class neighborhood. All of the tenants are very nice people, but the landlord is notoriously unresponsive.
I live on the second floor, and the young lady in the apartment next door to me has everything delivered to her. We share a common front stairway.
The other day, a ...Read more
Guidance From Grandma
Dear Annie: I am a 68-year-old Grammy, and I love to do things with my grandchildren. Unfortunately, as we age, our immunity lowers, and we can become sick more easily.
We can expose whooping cough to our grandbabies by just holding them. Pneumonia can be deadly, too, along with COVID-19 or the flu.
So, as we become older, we have to take care...Read more
Parents Punish Teen Because Of Her Sexual Orientation
DEAR ABBY: I am freshman in high school, and I live with my stepmother and father. They are great parents to me and my little brother but very homophobic. I love going to church with them, but I have a partner of the same gender. My parents recently found out and have decided as punishment to isolate me from everyone, including putting me in ...Read more

Asking Eric: Father wants to play surprise matchmaker for son on the spectrum
Dear Eric: My husband and son are both on the autism spectrum. We brought our son a sofa from IKEA and left it in his house. It needs to be assembled along with hanging curtains and installing the curtain rods.
We are both 75. Our son works full time and is finishing up his master’s thesis. He’s unlikely to be able to help with curtain ...Read more
Budgeter Doesn't Want To Miss Out On Little Treats
DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently started budgeting after realizing how much money slips through my fingers each month, especially on little treats like coffee runs, lunches out and takeout. When I added it all up, I was shocked at how much I've been spending without even realizing it. I know I need to be smarter with my money so I can save for my ...Read more
All The Single Ladies ... Are Sick Of This Question
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm a single woman who is frequently asked about my plans for marriage. The individuals making these inquiries have no business asking this question, let alone hearing the answer.
I typically smile and change the subject without answering their question. A few times, when particularly startled, I have responded with, "I beg ...Read more
A Cold, Cruel Pattern
Dear Annie: I had a seven-year relationship with a man who I thought was the love of my life. I had been married twice before -- once for 17 years -- to an alcoholic, and I was in a 10-year relationship with a man 15 years older than me.
I have one daughter, who is now 40, and he has a daughter with whom he is estranged. She is 43. He has been ...Read more
Inside Life Advice
Popular Stories
- Ask Anna: What to do when you've been dating for months but aren't 'official'
- Ask Dating Coach Erika: 'When is the best time for the 'what are we?' question?'
- Ask Dating Coach Erika: When is it time to take a dating break?
- Ask Anna: How to handle conflict when your partner only wants to text
- Ask Dating Coach Erika: 'Is it a red flag if they get sexual before we've even met?'