ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My daughter took in some kittens that a mama cat delivered on her property. She was very selective about who she would give them to and wound up only finding a home for one of them. She decided to keep two of the kittens, along with her existing two cats, which left three without homes. She kept them for seven months and then ...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you all a very happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day!

I thought it would be a good time to find some impactful quotes from presidential inaugural speeches and from King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I found quotes that inspire, unify and motivate audiences toward a shared vision for the nation. Comparing ...Read more

Dear Annie: After nine years of waiting for him to propose, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and popped the question myself. His response? He said he'd need to "see what his finances look like" -- and then a week later, he broke up with me via text.

Looking back, it's painfully clear: If he doesn't ask, he doesn't want to. ...Read more

Dear Annie: I just wanted to say thank you for keeping an open mind.

I've noticed that, on different occasions, readers sometimes challenge you or want to "add to" some of your answers based on their education or personal experiences.

You are willing to keep an open mind and welcome the input. For that, I say, BRAVO!

Of course, not all of the...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a very dear friend who is like family. I am 20 years older than she is, and at times I feel more like a surrogate mother than a big sister.

I know she has mental health problems, including anger management, trust issues, obsessive-compulsive disorder and, at times, I think, narcissistic tendencies. But she truly is a good ...Read more

Dear Annie: I just finished reading the letter from "Caged Bird," and my heart broke for her. The reason is because I lived that same life, and her letter could have been my own.

What was done to her by her mother and to me by my mother were not the products of "motherly love" or "misguided motherly concern." These were the actions of a ...Read more

Dear Annie: I spent my early childhood years with a loving foster family, and today, at age 75, I have a great relationship with my foster brother.

I lived with my biological family from age 7 until I left for college. I have one biological brother, and long story short, we are not close.

Today, I can hardly stand him or his family. He brags ...Read more

Dear Annie: I had a high school boyfriend 47 years ago but left him. He came to my house the day before I was marrying someone else and begged me not to marry him, but I did. Long story short, after getting divorced, I tried to find him, but I couldn't. I married again and got divorced again. I then focused on trying to find him again only to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for more than 24 years, and we have three wonderful daughters. My husband has always been a wonderful father and an OK husband.

However, he has always treated me with a lot of disrespect, and over the years, I always brushed it off because he was such a great dad to my daughters and because he provided everything...Read more

Dear Annie: "Numb and Lost" wrote to you regarding emotional detachment as a result of trauma and challenges in their life and struggles with finding proper therapy. As a 37-year-old male who has had difficulties and consequent challenges in therapy, I can relate.

In many ways, finding good therapy is its own battle, on top of the battle ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am in a quandary. My husband (67) and I (65) are both retired; I do work from home two days a week for around seven hours or so a week now. He takes Social Security while I do not. He had no 401(k) to speak of. Me working now was to make up the difference.

My problem is my husband sees no problem or need to get a part-time job, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a college student, and I just finished my finals for the fall semester and am now on winter break. Right toward the end of finals week, one of my professors had a medical emergency and had to miss our final day for surgery. My entire class sent her supportive emails, including me, but I find myself still worrying about her. ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been very blessed. We both were able to find and keep jobs in our chosen fields and worked through the years without any layoffs, slowdowns, serious illnesses, etc. We made good middle-income wages, and we always lived within our means while saving for retirement. We made some good investments along the way, and ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have mobility issues and use a walker, so I'm mostly confined to my home. My son helps by taking me to the beauty salon and occasionally to the bank or pharmacy, but I spend most of my time at home.

Today, two ladies showed up at my door unexpectedly. I hadn't been up long and wasn't dressed for visitors, and my house was far ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a difficult and deeply personal situation, and I would really appreciate your advice. My husband of two years left me on April 14, 2023, saying he wanted to build a home for us in California. The problem is, he made this decision without my knowledge or consent, and it feels like he abandoned me.

Since then, I've done ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a retired obstetrician-gynecologist, and over the years, I have had the privilege of counseling many women who have experienced the heartbreak of pregnancy loss. Whether through miscarriage, stillbirth or the birth of a child with defects incompatible with life, these losses are profoundly devastating.

One of the most painful...Read more

Dear Annie: My adult son and his wife have decided not to have children, which I've accepted, though it saddens me deeply. Earlier this year, they told me my son donated sperm to his wife's best friend, who has since had a baby girl. My son signed away his parental rights, started a college fund for the child and says he and his wife will act ...Read more

Dear Annie: A woman, "Patty," who pursued my husband 10 years ago, attends church with me. During this time, my husband alerted me to her efforts, and it culminated with her answering her home's front door in only a towel. Patty had called him to pick something up. My husband, fearing her aggressive flirting, demanded I come with him. So ...Read more

Dear Annie: Three months ago, I came home from lunch and my wife had packed up her closet and said: "I'm sorry, but I'm no longer in love with you. I'm bored and lonely, and I'm moving out."

We have been together 33 years and married 32 years. It was devastating to say the least. Since then, we have spent some time together going to the gym ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 36 years old, and I recently spoke to my dad. He raised me, and we have always been like best friends until I moved to Virginia, just because of the distance.

I have an older sister who lives at home and doesn't care to work, and my dad basically raises her son. I told my dad my future ambitions to adopt a child, and his ...Read more