ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am struggling to help my mother, who is a hoarder. Growing up, our house was always cluttered, but it has gotten significantly worse over the years. Every room is packed with boxes, old furniture and things she refuses to throw away. It's to the point where she can barely move around her home, and I worry about her safety. I've...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My partner and I lived abroad for 12 years and have recently moved back to his hometown. He has a job, I am working as a temp, and we are struggling to find housing, so we have been staying with his parents.

I am incredibly grateful to them; we have been living with them for two months now, and may stay another two months (...Read more

Dear Annie: Lately, I've been struggling with my husband's temper, and I don't know what to do. When things don't go his way -- whether it's something small like dinner plans or something bigger like finances -- he lashes out. He calls me names, belittles me and makes me feel like I'm always in the wrong. I try to keep the peace, but it feels ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My relationship with my partner hasn't been the greatest, but we are both working on ourselves to become better partners. Recently, I found out he has been texting another female (flirting). He 100% swore to me nothing more has happened besides the texting. He claims he likes the attention. This other woman knows he's in a ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've made some questionable decisions over the years that had a negative impact on my credit. Many of those mistakes were things I did when I didn't fully understand the concept of credit and financial responsibility. Now my bad credit is haunting me. I've been trying to take all of the steps to diminish debt and rectify certain ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm a physician, so I am used to people addressing me as "Dr. Jones." That includes both patients and non-physician staff in the hospital where I work. Even out in public, if I run into someone from the hospital, it is common for them to address me as "Dr. Jones."

However, when I go to a medical office as a patient, whether ...Read more

Dear Annie: Money can be one of the biggest sources of stress in a marriage, and it sounds like some people who write in to you feel more like accountants than equal partners. That's a red flag. A healthy financial arrangement should feel fair, transparent and respectful -- not like you're under a microscope while your husband has free rein.

...Read more

DEAR ABBY: How do I politely tell people I don't like having anyone visit me in my home? My home is my safe haven. The energy of the outside world drains me, and I don't want that feeling inside my home. This includes family members, friends, neighbors, church family and anyone else who might come knocking on my door. I have anxiety and some ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am trying to work on becoming less bothered by the small things in life. I take things personally, whether they are big or small, and I let them ruin my whole day. For instance, if someone makes a harmless joke at my expense or if I receive minor criticism at work, I dwell on it for hours, sometimes even days. Even when I know ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: On my daughter's wedding day, the weather was perfect, as was the venue and all preparations. A few hours before the ceremony, the groom was arrested on an active warrant. (That's an issue for another day.)

We were already at the venue. The bridal party was getting dressed and photos were being taken while the bride was on ...Read more

Dear Readers: In light of St. Patrick's Day, I want to share this story from "Same Boat," who wrote a response recently to share the story of how he reconnected with his fiancee from 28 years ago. With all the twists and turns of life, his story is about as lucky as they get. May your holidays be equally serendipitous!

Dear Annie: Thank you for...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law thinks he is good with his hands. He built a deck on the back of his house, and it's obvious that he's not a professional. My husband and I have never sat on his deck because it doesn't look safe. (Others have said the same thing.) He bragged to me about how he got away with not having to pull any permits and never ...Read more

A few years ago, a friend of mine asked if I'd be willing to be the emergency contact for her kids at their school. I told her it would be an honor to be a part of her village.

We say it all the time: "It takes a village." But we rarely stop to consider what that actually means. We long for community and a sense of belonging, for people to show...Read more

Dear Annie: For the past several years, I have donated two medical scholarships to the local high school in memory of my mother-in-law. While I have received a couple of thank-you notes from students over the years, most of the time, I hear nothing -- not even a simple acknowledgment from the school.

Because of this lack of appreciation, I am...Read more