ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My husband is a passionate sports fan whose mood fluctuates with the performance of his teams. He has always been passionate about sports, since before we started dating. In the beginning of our relationship, he would coordinate dates around games and always wanted to take me to games. I never enjoyed going but would be supportive ...Read more

Dear Amy: When I was growing up, my father called me terrible names, almost always centered on insulting my intelligence (calling me "stupid," a "nitwit," etc.). When I did well in college, he questioned how challenging my school was.

My mother also insulted me, usually about my appearance (calling me "fat," etc.), and questioned why a man ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I've been with my boyfriend, Jake, for two years. We are both 32. Since the beginning, his sister, Michelle (who is 26), has never liked me. Jake admits there's no reason for it. He thinks she's just looking out for him because he's had bad relationships in the past.

Michelle makes me very uncomfortable during family events by making...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister, "Shania," has been married for six years to "Al" (a second marriage for both, no children). During the entire duration of their marriage, Shania has complained about the lack of affection and sex.

Recently, Shania was diagnosed with a serious back problem that required three operations. As a result, she is permanently ...Read more

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Dear Carolyn:

My best friend informed me she won't be attending my wedding due to financial constraints. My wedding is across the country in my fiance's hometown, so I completely understood.

Lately, she's brought up larger purchases she's been making and it's really starting to grate me. I'm ...Read more

Dear Annie: My fiance, "Kyle," and I are supposed to get married in three weeks, and the venue -- his mother's house -- is falling through.

Kyle and I are on a budget and were engaged for a year trying to save up enough to even begin planning our wedding. Then Kyle's mother graciously offered to lend us her house for the event. It's a big old...Read more

Dear Amy: I just started college and I'm living in a dorm for the first time in my life.

This has exacerbated a problem that I've had my whole life.

I'm not sure if I'm antisocial or asocial (or what), but I have a hard time making friends.

I came to college with a group of friends from high school. I like all of them, but I've always felt ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My daughter and son-in-law are both in the military. Currently her husband is stationed elsewhere. They have a 6-month-old daughter, and I'm staying with her to help her out for now. I have a gut feeling that she is cheating. Do I have the right to ask her? -- WORRIED MOTHER IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR WORRIED: Of course you do -- that's what...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband, children and I are caring for my widowed father, who is in the late stages of dementia. I consider it a privilege and a responsibility to care for him at home, and am happy to do so for as long as I am able. I attend support groups, and my family and friends ensure that I "escape" from time to time.

The difficulty is ...Read more

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Dear Carolyn:

You said [in August: http://wapo.st/2aMLoQS] that "silent treatment ... is abuse." But what if you're angry and/or hurt and don't feel like talking to the person until you can get past whatever the issue is?

-- Silent

Then you say clearly, "I am angry [and/or hurt] and don't feel ...Read more

Dear Annie: The first meeting of my girlfriend and a couple with whom I am friends caused me to want to retreat into a hole.

My male friend is an intelligent, educated man who is extremely successful in business and recognized as such in the community.

My girlfriend's parents live in West Virginia, of which my male friend became aware. On ...Read more

Dear Amy: When my late father was ill, I always appreciated hearing comments from friends who visited Dad, since I didn't live with him.

It helped me adjust the level of care and change what I did for him.

I've had two occasions where I have noticed some concerning things about the parents of two of my friends. I shared my observations with ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I lost my longtime job but have remained in contact with a few former co-workers, meeting for an occasional lunch or dinner. One woman in particular has been pushing to meet at my place. Abby, I'm not proud of where I live now, and I don't want to have to explain this to her.

So far, I have side-stepped by saying that I prefer to get...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband, children and I are caring for my widowed father, who is in the late stages of dementia. I consider it a privilege and a responsibility to care for him at home, and am happy to do so for as long as I am able. I attend support groups, and my family and friends ensure that I "escape" from time to time.

The difficulty is ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a single older woman who has been friends with another single older woman for a few years. Neither of us has family, so I have sort of come to think of her as family. A couple of years ago, this friend started riding motor scooters. She loves it and waxes enthusiastic all the time about it. I had thought about getting a ...Read more

Dear Amy: My younger sister and I are young adults. We are extremely close, and have many mutual friends. She is educated, attractive, successful, single and often regarded as the type to take no nonsense from guys. I am sometimes regarded as the slightly overprotective older brother.

This past weekend we took a trip together, went out to bars ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My sister, Dawn, recently got engaged to a man I detest. They have been dating for two years. I don't trust him, and I believe he is controlling her. He has lied to me and to my parents, and has strained Dawn's relationship with our family by constantly making her choose between either him or us.

Dawn worked hard to earn her master's...Read more

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Hi, Carolyn:

When our neighbor moved in just over a year ago, she introduced herself and mentioned that her husband, who was in his late 30s, had passed away a year earlier. We've socialized with her quite a bit since then. She's amazing: seemingly not dwelling in the past or in the depths of despair...Read more

Dear Amy: I have recently started dating again after 10 years.

I met this guy five years ago on an online video game. He has suddenly gotten in touch with me after five years, and has confessed that he's been in love with me the whole time.

I was shocked. I have never been the one to clue in when someone likes me. We have started Skyping and ...Read more