ArcaMax

DEAR ABBY: I have a 16-month-old who has recently learned to walk. My mom was watching him one day a week while I worked part-time, but she ultimately decided it was too much stress on her back and said she could no longer lift him. Lately, she has been telling me I need to "train" him to do certain things in order for her to watch him without ...Read more

DEAR READERS: I haven't done this before -- run a whole day of your responses to a single letter -- but I'm doing so now because you got so fired up I want you to see how you reacted to the situation. Here's what a few of you had to say about "No More Babies," the woman with five children whose husband wanted her to have a tubal ligation.

DEAR ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I would be most grateful if you could provide guidance on how to graciously handle two common problems with email.

1. The response, "I never check that account."

What do we do when our correspondence goes into a black hole? A number of people have claimed that the message I sent went to an account that they never check. But ...Read more

Dear Annie: My best friend, "Claire," has been dating her boyfriend, "Jay," for three years. I really liked him when they first started dating, but lately, she's been confiding in me about some things that are making me a little nervous. For example: Jay goes through her phone, gets angry when she spends time with friends and even will ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I finally got custody of his daughter "Amelia" 15 days before her 16th birthday. She came to us with home-schooling and little socialization. Now she's 18, and we've gotten her on track to graduate, but she has completely changed. She plans to move in with her boyfriend and is skipping school.

My husband feels we can't...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been reading your column for several years, and I've noticed how you are a big advocate for communication. Yay! I agree that communication is key.

Sometimes you provide words or sentences your readers can use. However, in some of the cases people ask you about, it seems like they are talking to a wall, and the other ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have always struggled to get along with my mother-in-law. We are very different in tastes and temperament. I have tried to be polite and welcoming, to encourage familial bonds and to find some way to make her happy, but nothing I have done has ever been right.

She is quite outspoken in her negative opinions, so time with ...Read more

Dear Annie: My best friend, "Sarah," and I have been close since college, but lately, our friendship feels one-sided. She's going through a rough time; she broke up with her boyfriend, she hates her job and she's been struggling with anxiety. I've been there for her every step of the way, listening to her vent, offering advice and checking in ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My daughter-in-law is very opinionated. At times, we get along. But, in the past, she has upset me by accusing me of not doing the right thing. She and my son have two young children together and full custody of his son from another mother.

I complimented my grandson on looking after his little sister at her birthday party and was ...Read more

Admit it. You've been bowled over by the good looks and smooth manner of someone who shall remain nameless. Who among us hasn't been?! But the last time your eyes locked with his/hers, it just wasn't the same celebration; sparks refused to fly. And there you were, in the middle of a perfectly scrumptious fantasy, when that old devil Reality came...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I think I'm still in love with my ex. Is it possible it just wasn't the right time for us?

My ex and I ran into each other for the first time in a long time at a party back in December, and it's as if we picked up where we left off. There was some subtle avoidance at first, but he checked on me throughout the night and insisted ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am part of a group of six college friends from 50 years ago. We stay in touch by texting often, and getting together in person every few years. We are spread out geographically, but one friend and I are just a few miles apart and have always seen each other more often.

I was to stop by this friend's house to pick something ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm struggling with something at work that's starting to affect not just my motivation but also my self-worth.

My boss has taken credit for my work on several occasions. These aren't minor tasks; I'm talking about full-scale projects I've managed from start to finish, ideas I've brainstormed and developed, and presentations I've ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My dad is a registered sex offender who has done time for his crimes against children. My mother has continued to have contact with him and has repeatedly chosen him over her own children. She doesn't respect our wishes, and we believe she gives him information about our lives and our images.

With a child on the way, I cannot ...Read more