ArcaMax

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

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter just graduated from college in May, and my husband and I couldn't be prouder of her. She has a job lined up in New York City and will be moving there in mid-August. The lease at her college apartment ends in July, and we were really hoping she would come home before starting this next chapter. We thought it would be a...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I haven't been able to get a good night's rest in over a year. My 8-year-old daughter still insists on sleeping in our bed with us almost every night, and I'm at a loss for what to do. It started a few years ago when she had some nightmares, and I let her sleep with us to help her feel safe. Now it's become a habit...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I hate my new manager. She's new to the team, and it is clear to everyone that her priority is asserting dominance and making sure her voice is heard and her name is known. Plot twist: She's my cousin!

When my cousin asked me to introduce her to the higher-ups at my job for a referral, I was elated. She has a stellar resume, and...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I started my current job during the COVID-19 pandemic, and at that time, everyone was working from home. This year, my employer has asked that we all begin working in the office again full-time. I live over an hour away from the office, and the commute is excessive. The cost of gas continues to rise, but my salary has not changed...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been looking for a fresh start for a few years. I didn't know exactly what I needed to change, but I felt disappointment when I'd reflect on my life. One day, I decided to change my location on LinkedIn and began getting some great job offers. For a time, I'd take interviews; when I'd get offered a job, I'd get cold feet and...Read more