ArcaMax

Dear Eric: Often when I make a comment or tell a story my husband corrects me. If I try and defend what I've said, he just implies that I'm wrong and he's right. It can be embarrassing when we are out socially. Most of the time I let it slide. Because if I try to point out that I'm correct and he's wrong, he just carries on as if he's right. At ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband is in his mid-80s and I’m in my late 70s. My husband has always suffered from anxiety, whereas I am calmer.

Over the years, my husband has used various anti-anxiety drugs under a doctor’s supervision and found one that works. He has tried some mindfulness techniques, but at times of high anxiety, he doesn’t use them....Read more

Dear Eric: My brother passed in 2023. He was not married and had no children. He left an estate of $1.5 million. My two sisters and I split his estate equally and have finally closed the estate. From the start, my older sister's husband protested that we should not split the estate equally. He says we should have split it to "level the ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am a 76-year-old man. My best friend is a woman who is 75. Her son and daughter-in-law have an 11-year-old and two little children under three. The son very frequently asks her to provide child-care for overnights and weekends. They are very active and seem to always have plans for ski and bike trips, hiking and camping trips, and ...Read more

Dear Eric: My sister is a little person and is currently unable to walk without a scooter or crutches. Last year she slipped and hurt her hip. She’s waiting to have surgery in another state. I am her only sibling that lives in this state.

She gave up driving a few years ago. When she wants to go somewhere, she relies on me. She has a son in ...Read more

Dear Eric: A few months ago, I discovered I was not invited to my niece’s wedding this summer. She is the daughter of my only sibling. I was told when I asked my sister if I needed to save the date. I have attended my sister's other two children's weddings.

I should include that I am an adult, ASD Level 1. Most people would be familiar with ...Read more

Dear Eric: Kate and I have been friends for more than 20 years. Over 10 years ago, I would’ve almost considered us best friends. My husband considered her husband his best friend. As years went by, Kate treated her husband so disrespectfully. Time went by and their children spoke to him terribly, too.

Unfortunately, he passed away ...Read more

Dear Eric: Over the years my husband and I have given our son and daughter-in-law many gifts such as kitchen appliances, furniture, a car and other expensive items. These gifts have always been presented to both of them.

Our daughter-in-law has never acknowledged this. We don’t understand why. Our daughter-in-law has a very strong personality...Read more

Dear Eric: I belong to an organization that raises money for the less fortunate. Recently, I hosted an event to raise funds for children with disabilities. One of my guests acted very rudely toward my chef and the waitresses. I filed a complaint against this person, there was an investigation, but the results were that my complaints were not ...Read more

Dear Eric: We’re two seniors in our late 70s, dating two years. He divorced after a 50-year marriage – she initiated it. I had two short marriages early on; one child. I have had several short relationships and one seven-year relationship, though not living together. The man I’m dating is old-fashioned and unable to stop questioning me and...Read more

Dear Eric: My friend Glenda recently got engaged to a man she's only known for nine months. I'm certain she would have married him after much less because he fits in with what an ideal or "fairytale" life looks like. She is very much a "look at me" person on social media, and having a partner after being single for so long is a real moment for ...Read more

Dear Eric: My niece contacted me and said she was coming to a college reunion near me. She wondered if she and her family could stay at my home during the weekend. I was happy to have them, and they had a good time. My wife and I cooked several meals for them and loaned them a car. Their final evening, we all went out to dinner (six of them ...Read more

Dear Eric: Recently I ran into a friend who invited me for coffee with another friend. I don't care for the other friend because he is misogynistic and opinionated. I didn't explain any of this and politely declined the offer, but I felt no explanation was required.

If this comes up again, do I owe this person reasons why I don't enjoy the ...Read more

Dear Eric: My sister (85) and I (80) have been estranged for about five years. My niece invited us for Thanksgiving dinner just before this fallout. She was also inviting relatives of her fiancé who are active Scientologists, a religion that has a well-documented distaste of homosexuals.

I am in a long-term same-sex marriage, and I expressed ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have had the same dentist for the past 15 years. Within the last year, I have found myself wanting to know him on a personal level. I know he is not involved in a relationship, and he seems interested as well. How should I proceed?

– Makes Me Smile

Dear Smile: First, find a new dentist. The American Dental Association’s Code ...Read more

Dear Eric: My younger sister, Lucy, and I are both in our 20s and share an apartment.

Growing up, I faced a lot of double standards from our parents compared to Lucy, especially when it came to household responsibilities. Lucy was coddled to the point of depriving her of developing basic life skills.

As adults, I end up picking up the slack ...Read more

Dear Eric: We have two nephews, 17 and 21, and felt it was time to teach them money management skills and saving for retirement. At Thanksgiving, we funded two brokerage accounts for each – a $7,000 Roth IRA and $3,000 brokerage. We also gave two books on long-term investing.

Given the 40-plus years until they retire, the funds, if added to, ...Read more

Dear Eric: One of my best friends is a woman I introduced to my boyfriend's brother. They married last October after knowing each other for about six months. My friend often confides in me about what's happening in the marriage. She is sensitive about her husband's relationship with his ex-wife and told him that he should only communicate with ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband passed away unexpectedly at a young age. I am a few years younger than he was, so of course it was a shock. The problem is a friend, "Nancy", discussed details surrounding his passing I would not have shared. It created the additional stress of people I hadn't heard from in years contacting me and I clearly didn't inform ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am a college student in my mid-20s, and I keep losing friends. Some friends have ghosted me, some got frustrated with me when I tried to figure out why they ended a friendship with me, and some have said that I talk about my problems too much, but they still want to be friends. One friend just lost their mom and told me what ...Read more