Life Advice
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Ask Anna: She's not over her ex, and you're not OK with casual -- what now?
Dear Anna,
I’ve been seeing this girl for about two months, and while things have been fun, I’m struggling with how close she still is to her ex. They were together for seven years and broke up six months ago, but it feels like he’s still very present in her life. He even comes over frequently. She has photos of them all over, and her ...Read more
Single File: Letting Go
The ongoing battle to hold on to our hard-earned personhood while in a love relationship demands self-confidence and self-awareness. But what about encouraging your beloved to also be an individual? What about having the maturity (hate the word) and wisdom (a much better one) to grant them -- nay, encourage them -- to own breathing space to be ...Read more
7 dating mistakes that you can fix right now
You can’t “create” chemistry, either online or in person, but you can do a few tangible things to increase your odds a bit. I want to share 7 dating mistakes that you can fix right now:
1. Using unflattering profile pictures.
You say, “Does it really matter?” The answer is yes. Yes, it does. You get one chance to make a first ...Read more
Asking Eric: Supervisor lied about sending letter of recommendation
Dear Eric: Several months ago, I saw a part-time position I wanted to apply for. I would also be able to keep a job I currently have if selected for the new position.
As part of the application process, I needed two references. I asked a current supervisor for one. I told her I would be able to keep working for her if chosen for the new ...Read more
Keeping Family Ties Alive Shouldn't Be a Solo Effort
Dear Annie: As a wife, mother of three and a full-time program manager overseeing a crisis unit, I juggle a lot of responsibilities. Despite my busy schedule, I find myself having to be the one to initiate contact with my husband's side of the family. If I didn't, we would likely never see them. Maintaining family connections is important to ...Read more
Long-lost mother and son find healing and sweet reunion at bakery
CHICAGO -- Lenore Lindsey did not consider herself a baker when she opened Give Me Some Sugah at age 50 in 2008. Neither did Vamarr Hunter when he took over the South Shore bakery this year at the same age.
The late-in-life knack for baking isn’t the only parallel in their stories, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Hunter never dreamed...Read more
Asking Eric: Couple wants to respond to stranger’s insulting their hometown
Dear Eric: My husband and I have just returned from a driving trip in the Southwest. Several days ago, he was standing in a fast-food line when another man started a conversation with him. When the man asked, “where is home for you?” My husband responded by saying "Los Angeles.” The other man said, "I’m so sorry for you."
This is not ...Read more
Asking Eric: Couple wants to respond to stranger’s insulting their hometown
Dear Eric: My husband and I have just returned from a driving trip in the Southwest. Several days ago, he was standing in a fast-food line when another man started a conversation with him. When the man asked, “where is home for you?” My husband responded by saying "Los Angeles.” The other man said, "I’m so sorry for you."
This is not ...Read more
Adult Child Choosing Comfort Over Family Tradition
Dear Annie: I'd love your perspective on an issue I'm having with my adult daughter, who lives in another state. She visits every Christmas for several days but refuses to stay overnight at my home. She claims my guest room is too cluttered and noisy, or she offers other excuses for not staying. Instead, she rents an Airbnb for part of her ...Read more
Asking Eric: Friend insists she’s messaging with celebrities online
Dear Eric: My friend has been totally engrossed with messaging celebrities through Telegram. So far, she has been in contact with four musicians. Two of the four have promised to come visit with her.
After the first celebrity visit fell through, I asked her repeatedly to block this contact. She vacillates between blocking and then unblocking ...Read more
Am I Setting the Wrong Boundaries?
Dear Annie: I have complex feelings about my family, which may come across as harsh, but I feel it's important to explain. They exhibit behaviors that I find troubling, such as a tendency to rely on the more successful members of the family for support without taking accountability for their own circumstances. In their view, refusing to help ...Read more
Millennial Life: The Resistance of Knowing Yourself
I was inhaling a chicken sandwich and watching TikToks at the truck stop before a meeting. My car was off and the windows rolled down a crack. A lady in a car pulled up next to me. She repeatedly shouted hello as I fumbled to restart my car to roll down the window.
She was older and smiling, holding a square sandwich with one hand and the other...Read more
Asking Eric: ‘Very kind’ sister-in-law constantly bad-mouths her husband
Dear Eric: My sister-in-law is one of the kindest and most giving people I know. She volunteers at her church, at our local YMCA and at our golf club. She has driven friends several states away for medical treatments.
However, my brother/her husband of 30-plus years is not a social guy, and this irritates her to no end. She will complain to ...Read more
Should I Reconcile With My Abusive Ex for the Sake of Our Son?
Dear Annie: I was married to my spouse for 34 years, and throughout our marriage, he was abusive. I separated from him two and a half years ago, and we are now divorced. Six months after the separation, he called to apologize for not being a good husband. I asked if he wanted to reconcile, but he had already started seeing someone else just ...Read more
Asking Eric: Sisters disagree over inheritance split
Dear Eric: When my mother passed away, her trust was split mostly between me and my sister, with a small percentage to my sister's two kids. My mother and my sister lived together. My mother put the down payment on their house, and they split the mortgage and utilities. My sister covered most of the mortgage.
I have always imagined gifting a ...Read more
Spotting the Red Flags in an Online Relationship
Dear Annie: I met this guy who seems to be my soulmate. He lives in America, and I'm in South Africa. However, he refuses to meet me and says it's because he is a celebrity.
He is manipulative and constantly makes me cry. He wants me to send him money before we meet, but because I can't -- I just don't have the funds he's asked for -- he has ...Read more
What is the South Korean 4B movement and why are American women claiming to embrace it?
In a TikTok post that’s been liked by more than a million users, TikTok user @rabbitsandtea, who goes by “A,” sits on a couch dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Her long, brown hair untied, she is petting her cat while hawk-like bird calls play in the background. Text on the screen reads: “Doing my part as an American woman by ...Read more
Asking Eric: Son’s slang leaves parents puzzled
Dear Eric: My son has recently started using some slang terms that have me scratching my head – namely “gyat,” “skibidi,” and “sigma.”
As a parent, I want to stay connected and understand the language of his world, but I feel a bit lost in translation. It seems like these words pop up in every conversation, and I can’t help but ...Read more
Balancing Passion and Practicality
Dear Annie: I'm a high school senior worried about my future. I still haven't found a major I really want to do, and I'm running out of time. Animation/art is my passion, but I don't want to get my degree in it. I haven't found anything else I'm interested in pursuing. I want to make money without selling my soul to do something I'd hate. How ...Read more
Asking Eric: Husband’s bucket list plans exclude wife
Dear Eric: My husband and I have been married for more than 50 years and we have recently retired. I was looking forward to the free time to do more of the things we had talked about doing together. We have always been friends as well as spouses.
But it seemed almost immediately that my husband made a bucket list and started doing things he ...Read more
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