Life Advice
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Asking Eric: Labor Day wedding too much work for out-of-state aunt
Dear Eric: One of my two daughters is getting married in a very small ceremony in August. It so happens to be on Labor Day weekend. Her sister and her fiancé's sister are planning a brunch the following day to celebrate this union.
My own sister lives in Florida. When I emailed her (and our brothers) about this event, she responded immediately...Read more
Employee Wants To Move To New Department
DEAR HARRIETTE: Another manager within my firm told me a few weeks ago that she wants me to come work for her full-time. I have been temporarily supporting her because she recently lost her executive assistant, and we work together well. This switch could have me working in the human resources department, which I have been trying to transition ...Read more
Leave Neighbor's Wardrobe Choices Alone
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have an acquaintance who frequently walks her dog at the same time I do. She is a nice person, and we get along well; our dogs even like each other.
We are both female. The issue is that her skirts or sundresses keep getting shorter. I avert my eyes, but I have seen more of her anatomy than I care to. I have also seen a ...Read more
Bonds, Babies and Boundaries
Dear Annie: My sister, "Renee," and I have always been close, but things changed after she had a baby last year. I was genuinely happy for her, and I've tried to be supportive -- dropping off meals, babysitting when I can, texting to check in. But ever since the baby was born, she's been distant and, honestly, a little cold.
She cancels plans...Read more
Middle-Aged Woman's New Pastime Has Taken Over Her Life
DEAR ABBY: I need help! I am a 50-plus-year-old, married, well-educated woman. I am also a kleptomaniac and I'm not proud of it. It started a few years back when I accidentally left an item in my shopping cart. Since then, I have found it easy to take things -- shoes, makeup, jewelry, clothing.
I am out of control. I know it's wrong. I tell ...Read more

She wanted more spaces in Chicago for queer women to build deep connections with each other -- so she made her own social club
CHICAGO — When Aderinsola Akeju saw an ad on social media for an all-female slumber party, the former boarding school student was excited for the opportunity to fulfill a wistful dream.
But instead of snacks and late-night conversations, the party felt more like a rave she could find anywhere, she said. Disappointed, the 22-year-old decided ...Read more
Single File: Be Good to Yourself
I just happen to be reading my own book (titled "Single File," for those of you who haven't done the same) and find myself lingering at the section "Be good to Yourself." This is an issue dear to my heart because to this day, the stereotype lingers of the unmarried as utterly selfish and navel-watching. To be sure, there's much unraveling of ...Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: Questions about ghosting, goals
Today, let’s look at two different questions from two different clients. As always, if one person asks, I can only assume it is applicable to a larger audience. And, interestingly enough, you’ll see that these questions are applicable to any gender and any age.
Question:
I am convinced that online dating is haunted, based upon my ...Read more

Ask Anna: Hookup culture burnout and unavailable crush cycles: Pride edition
Dear Anna,
I'm a 38-year-old gay man living in a midsize city, and I'm completely exhausted by the dating scene here. It feels like every guy I meet on the apps is only interested in hooking up, and when I suggest actually going on a date or getting to know each other first, they either ghost me or tell me I'm "too serious." I've tried being ...Read more

Date like a 'Love Islander': Tips from a casting event
ATLANTA -- “Love Island USA’s” Pop-Up Villa stopped by Atlanta’s Park Tavern recently, and whether you’re entering your dating era or you’re just a fan of the popular show, the free event offered more than a chance to audition.
We spoke with casting director Jodi Thomas to get her thoughts on dating trends, red flags and what really...Read more

Asking Eric: Joint family birthday party puts burden on one side only
Dear Eric: My son will soon be turning 13, as will my niece. They were born a week apart. I usually host a family pool party for my son's birthday, but my brother and his wife do not arrange a family party for their daughter. (They also have a nice yard with a pool.).
Instead, they have a party for her and her friends without inviting family. ...Read more
Psychotherapist Weighs In On Toddler Behavior
DEAR HARRIETTE: Retired licensed psychotherapist specializing in children and families here. With regard to "Out-of-Control Toddler," the parent struggling with a toddler who has started hitting, there is now much empirical evidence to suggest that the "gentle parenting" that your advice reflects is ineffectual, especially for toddlers and ...Read more
'fun Party Game' Neither Fun Nor A Game
DEAR MISS MANNERS: To prevent party guests from driving impaired, I came up with a fun game using a $21 breathalyzer I bought online. I call it "Have I Had Too Many?"
Guests who are at, or even close to, the legal limit get a prize -- a free ride home!
Everything was going great until one guest tested at well over twice the legal limit, but ...Read more
Tension at the Lake House
Dear Annie: Every summer, my husband "Jake" and I spend a week at his parents' lake house in Wisconsin. It's a beautiful spot -- right on the water, with pine trees, hummingbirds and a little dock where Jake used to fish as a kid. When we first started dating, I actually looked forward to these trips. I imagined quiet mornings with coffee by ...Read more
High School Flame Tries To Turn Up The Heat
DEAR ABBY: I'm a 48-year-old woman. When I was 17, I hooked up with this guy who was part of my friend group. I knew he had a crush on me, so I decided to have sex with him in his car. It meant nothing to me, but everything to him.
He has tried to reach me over the years. If I was married, he was single. After my first husband died, I did meet ...Read more

Asking Eric: Religious leader’s speaking obscures message
Dear Eric: The president of my religious institution is, in my view, a fine leader and a rotten speaker.
I have participated in a number of meetings he has led and am driven crazy by the number of instances of "you know," "kind of" and asking "right?" in the middle of a statement. His speech is riddled with these. In the most recent gathering, ...Read more
Daughter Loses Identity In Quest To Fit In
DEAR HARRIETTE: My 12-year-old daughter is going through a phase where she feels like she has to match everything her friends do, what they wear, what they eat, the shows they watch, the hobbies they're into, etc. She constantly compares herself to them and puts so much pressure on herself to fit in, to the point where she won't even try ...Read more
In Praise Of The Humble Handkerchief
DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is your opinion on handkerchiefs? I prefer them to tissues.
I have seen brides, at weddings that cost thousands of dollars, crying into wadded-up tissues. If they really find it so disgusting to reuse a soiled handkerchief, they could invest a few dollars in a multi-pack and get a fresh one each time. Also, I believe ...Read more
Distance and Red Flags
Dear Annie: My younger sister and I used to be incredibly close. We talked every day, shared everything and supported each other through some of the hardest times in our lives, including the loss of our mom. But over the past two years, she has pulled away, and I feel like I do not even know her anymore.
It started when she began dating her ...Read more
Teenager Asks For Massive Change In Her Life
DEAR ABBY: I am a mother of three girls, 25, 21 and about to be 15. My youngest has always lived with me. Her father and I separated when she was 1. They always had a good relationship. Over the last couple of years, after he moved to another state and married, our co-parenting relationship has changed for the worse.
My youngest has always ...Read more
Inside Life Advice
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- Ask Anna: Hookup culture burnout and unavailable crush cycles: Pride edition