DEAR ABBY: My parents were separated for four years while I was in high school and college. It was an incredibly difficult time, and it strained my relationship with my dad. I was told they had “grown apart” but got back together, although we never discuss the reason for it. I was out with my […]

DEAR ABBY: My mother moved in with my sister in California around 1993. After 20 years, I asked her what she wanted to do with her storage unit, which was still in Arizona. Long story short, she said: “Clear it out. I don’t even know what’s in there. Take whatever you want, keep the pictures […]

DEAR ABBY: I am extremely upset. My son got married a year ago. We were very happy and have welcomed his wife into our family. He met us for lunch yesterday and announced that he and his wife have a polyamorous relationship. They will stay married, but both of them will date and have long-term […]

DEAR ABBY: I have been seeing a woman for a year, and everything seemed pretty sweet. She told me when we met that trust is important to her as she has had issues in past relationships, including with her ex-husband, who was seeing an ex without disclosing it to her. This week I saw a […]

DEAR ABBY: I am 26. My mom recently got my boyfriend sent to jail. We met six months ago. After a month, he started verbally abusing me, which progressed to physical abuse. Each time I was sure I was about to die. He is now locked up for kidnapping, false imprisonment and aggravated assault. Mom […]

DEAR ABBY: I cannot stand my husband’s sister. She thinks way too much of herself. She “had” to get married to a foreigner (who NEVER works), and her three grown sons still live at home and don’t work or go to school. She works several odd jobs to support the lazy men in her life. […]

DEAR ABBY: I’ve only had one boyfriend. For most of my childhood, he was my best friend. When we were 14, I got scared we might fight, break up and never forgive each other, so I told him I wanted to go back to being just friends without explaining why. In retrospect, I know how […]

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend of nearly five years and I have been at odds during most of our relationship. We have had religious-based disagreements, arguments over my not giving him enough affection, his not providing financially, possible cheating on his part, and his wanting me to have a better relationship with his mother. For about […]

DEAR ABBY: I am a woman in my 30s working two jobs to make ends meet after a divorce. A few months ago, I met a nice gentleman who has been understanding about my situation and crazy hours, and we have a pretty stable relationship. Feelings have developed, and we’re thinking about getting more serious. […]

DEAR ABBY: I am a new mother to a perfect baby boy. Everywhere I go — the grocery store, my front yard, my daughter’s school — people ask, “You are breastfeeding, right?” Why should it matter to strangers whether or not I’m breastfeeding my baby? It has no effect on them whatsoever. It’s a personal […]