ArcaMax

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Having been raised in a strongly evangelical home, and having painfully walked away from those beliefs, religion is an emotionally distressing subject for me, one that I am only able to discuss with those very close to me.

A few months ago, I was hospitalized for a couple of weeks. For most of that time, I shared the room ...Read more

Dear Annie: Thousands of grandparents and extended family members are stepping in to raise children in today's world, often due to parents struggling with substance abuse. While many of us take on this responsibility out of love and necessity, it comes with its own set of emotional challenges.

As one of those grandparents, I've had to put my ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My son just told me his daughter, age 26, is getting breast enhancement surgery. My question is, how do I address that when next I see her, probably in several months? It's not like commenting on a new hair color or hairdo. Old men commenting on female anatomy, particularly that part, are not looked upon favorably.

As I see it, there...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am going through a tough time emotionally. My mom is in hospice care, which means she is nearing the end of her life. We are very close. It is obvious that she has a limited time to live, but it's still hard to witness.

When I talk to friends about it, I realize that most people don't listen. I have called my closest friends ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How long should someone wait for a call to be returned?

My friend and I talk frequently on the phone. Lately when I call, I get a text that says, "I'll call you back." I thought the returned call would come in a short time, but it is taking longer and longer.

It was taking as long as a week, but now it doesn't come at all ...Read more

Dear Annie: My oldest son is married, and while I have always tried to maintain a good relationship with my daughter-in-law, it's clear that she doesn't like me. Despite this, I love my two grandchildren more than words can express and cherish every moment I get to spend with them.

However, I often feel excluded from their lives, especially ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have three kids. One of them, "Jake," is in his early 20s. He has medical issues, so he has always been babied to a certain degree. Jake has struggled with jobs, drugs, friends and places to live. Somehow, he always ends up back with me. I know I'm an enabler. I have kicked him out before, but I never give up on him. I try to be a ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I threw my 2-year-old daughter a birthday party last week and invited my husband's family and my family. I was so excited to have everyone together to celebrate, but the day quickly turned stressful when our mothers got into a heated argument. It started as a few passive-aggressive comments, but it escalated when my mother-in-law...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We are holding a celebration of life for my 28-year-old son at an airplane hangar. I'm saying "Wear anything!" because we want it to be about celebrating his life more than mourning his death. I plan to wear white.

Do you make a distinction between funerals and celebrations of life, or do you believe mourning prevails ...Read more

Dear Annie: First, I just want to say how much I appreciate your columns! I always enjoy your insights.

Recently, my newspaper ran the column with a letter from "Feeling Undervalued," the woman who was frustrated that her husband didn't buy her small gifts for occasions like Valentine's Day. I thought your advice was great, but I wanted to ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm 29, and my boyfriend is 36. We met on a dating site and were together for three years. He broke up with me two months ago because he didn't think he could marry me. (We weren't engaged.) He says I'm the love of his life, soulmate and his dream come true, and I feel the same, but he has commitment issues.

When I met him, I was in ...Read more

For millennials and Gen Z, life is mediocre. Whatever we label the drive for overachievement -- the hustle, the grind, or paying your dues -- we've found that it doesn't necessarily lead to success. Especially if we've redefined what that looks like for us.

It's not just about money. Working 40, 50, or even 60 hours a week with one or two jobs ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a divorced woman in my late 40s with a child in college, and for the past 2 1/2 years, I've been in a wonderful, loving relationship with a man I'll call "Matt." He and his sister, "Martha," are extremely close -- so close they call themselves "Irish twins." Since she lives far away, I've only met her a couple of times, but let...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I recently reconnected with a colleague from work. We were friendly, but not really what I would call friends. We reconnected on social media and have had lunch a few times. The problem is, she has become a very negative, aggressive, angry person. She spends our time bashing family, former colleagues and just about every service ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am the mother of a wonderful, bright and kindhearted 10-year-old daughter who is autistic. She is creative and has a deep passion for animals and art, but she struggles with social interactions. Making friends has never been easy for her, and now that she's in a new school, it seems even harder. She tells me often that other ...Read more