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Single File: Best Single Cities
According to census data, the median age for an individual's first marriage has been steadily increasing over time. In 2018, the median age for a first marriage in the United States was nearly 30 for men and 28 for women, up from 23 for men and 21 for women in 1970.
In addition to putting off marriage, millennials are also more likely to be ...Read more

Ask the dating coach
We’re here for another installment of “Ask Dating Coach Erika,” where people anonymously share their burning dating questions.
Question: Any tips for someone who works 80 hours per week and is always burned out but wants to date?
Answer: Trust me -- I wish I had the ability to create more hours in the week. Unfortunately, that's not in ...Read more

Ask Anna: I can't afford to be my friend's maid of honor
Dear Anna,
Three months ago, I excitedly agreed to be the maid of honor in my college roommate's destination wedding next summer, assuming it would involve standard expenses. Fast forward to now, and I'm realizing I cannot afford the costs: a specific designer bridesmaid dress, mandatory professional hair and makeup, the flight and five-day ...Read more

Asking Eric: While trying to be an influencer, a friend crosses the line
Dear Eric: A lady I know does shopping for Instacart, and occasionally she will post on Facebook photos of homes she has delivered to, adding comments like “look at this cool home I delivered groceries to today!” Isn’t that a huge breach of privacy? Or as an influencer, she will post videos of herself walking around a restaurant or store, ...Read more
Birthday Gifts Have an Age Limit
Dear Annie: This letter is in reference to the aunt and uncle who provided generous gifts to their six nephews, only to be forgotten when it came time for those same nephews to thank them.
I would suggest that they do what I have done with my 20 grandchildren: I'll give them birthday cards and gifts until age 18. At that time, I let them know ...Read more

Asking Eric: Looking for a romantic spark, an old friend gets ghosted
Dear Eric: I am a lesbian in my late 60s. Recently I had a dream of a woman I knew back in the ’70s. I was very taken by her; even though I knew I was gay and confused, I married my boyfriend anyway. But she and I and other friends went on coffee breaks for a couple of years, and she always sat across from me. Sometimes I caught her staring at...Read more
Can I Keep My Guy Friends?
Dear Annie: I have been dating my boyfriend for almost eight years. We were high school sweethearts, and we are each other's first everything, so we've only been with each other.
I've had a guy friend for about six years because we worked together. We've since stayed friends once we both left our jobs. I do hang out with him, but I always let ...Read more

Asking Eric: Nonprofit founder wants to hold onto awards after company closes
Dear Eric: I founded a nonprofit organization that is about to close (for multiple reasons, one being that others are now doing this work). I’m no longer on the board of directors, just a volunteer. A few years ago, we got a very prestigious award for something that was my idea. Can I keep the actual award, or if not, what should we do with it...Read more
Facebook Misinformation Alienates Son
Dear Annie: I have two sons. My older one was always a source of difficulty growing up. He loved to read encyclopedias and science-related books. This led him to correct his teachers at times. Needless to say, this did not go well for him and made him an object of bullying in public school. I sent him to private school where they recognized his ...Read more
Millennial Life: The Tables and Traditions That Form Our Lives
The victims of the shooting could have been at the table next to us at Olive Garden. Or, it could have been the shooters. It's hard to know.
The table had a group of young men, perhaps in their late teens or early 20s, wearing their grown bodies like oversized coats inherited from their fathers. My son and I shared the wall-length booth with ...Read more

Asking Eric: Teen struggles to balance school and work
Dear Eric: I am having some trouble with keeping up at school on my grades. I feel
like it’s because of my job and working five days a week but it feels like I cannot tell anyone that. If I tell my parents, they’re going to want me to quit my job and work on my schoolwork more, but I am just not ready to give up my privilege of making my ...Read more
Feelings First
Dear Annie: Some years ago, I went to a nearby office supply shop, where I saw a local couple looking around. The woman, a local musician, had Alzheimer's, but she seemed to recognize me, so we began a conversation. I don't recall what it was about, but it was the silliest, most illogical and the most fun conversation I've ever had with anyone. ...Read more

Asking Eric: Self-medicating friend’s disturbing behavior creates discomfort
Dear Eric: My husband’s best friend of 18 years has a wife, “Martha,” who is bipolar. She self-medicates with THC. I’ve become uncomfortable being around her. My husband is supportive of my feelings, to a point. He doesn't want to lose John's friendship, which I totally understand.
Two weeks ago, Martha had asked me to come over. The ...Read more
Husband's Condescension Pushes Wife to the Edge
Dear Annie: I've been married to my second husband for 38 years. He's a good man, and I'm blessed to have such a wonderful husband and father to our daughter. We've had our ups and downs, but for the most part, he has been a gift from God.
So what's the problem? He is often condescending and patronizing toward me. He frequently interjects a ...Read more

Asking Eric: Prospective parents go back on deal with potential gestational carrier
Dear Eric: I (38F) am done having kids and have always thought I'd be a gestational carrier. I'm interested in helping someone build their family and have a little extra for my kids’ college funds. My husband is supportive of whatever I'd like to do. I was originally going to work through an agency but met a couple through a mutual friend that...Read more
Navigating Changing Friendships
Dear Annie: My friend "Lauren" and I have been close since high school. We used to talk all the time and make plans regularly, but now I'm always the one reaching out. If I don't text or call first, I don't hear from her at all. When we do hang out, things are great, but that's only once every month or so.
I've asked if something is wrong, ...Read more

Asking Eric: After wife’s death, man struggles to find another female-led relationship
Dear Eric: I was married for 27 years to a wonderful woman who has passed away. We lived in a Female-led Relationship (FLR) which meant she was in charge of most things. We made joint decisions on the big things, but for the most part, what she said was what we did.
Included in this was discipline for me, including assignments such as standing ...Read more
When Family Oversteps
Dear Annie: I'm struggling with how to handle my mother-in-law, "Karen." My husband, "Jake," and I have been married for five years, and we just had our first baby, "Emily," three months ago.
Since Emily was born, Karen has been over constantly. At first, I appreciated her help, but now it feels like she's taking over. She drops by ...Read more
Single File: The Two I's - Part 2
Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted by those seven days? Oh, I remember now. You were feeling impatient with the waiting game and ready (almost) to make something happen now, soon, even though the love of your life isn't (yet) on the scene! The way I see it, passivity is no longer your style. You've been feeding yourself, a ...Read more

Talking phase' turnoffs
There’s an important period in a relationship that’s often overlooked in online dating: the point between finding an interesting profile and actually meeting in person. While there is certainly an art to crafting an interesting opening message — although anything more exciting than “Hey” or “How’s it going?” will often suffice, ...Read more
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