ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I'm a 57-year-old woman, and I've been in an off-and-on relationship for nearly 11 years with a man who is 30. Yes, there's a big age gap, but in the beginning, it felt like we truly connected. We got married, and for a while, I thought we had something special.

But over the years, he's developed a pattern: he leaves -- sometimes ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a retired, divorced man who had a fulfilling career, but I now struggle to find female companionship. I was mostly focused on my career and got married in my mid-40s, partly out of loneliness, and together we have a daughter in her 20s. Looking back, I don't think I was ever truly in love with my ex-wife. Still, I've never ...Read more

Dear Annie: The town I live in is trying to cut expenses by having amateurs handle the mowing and weed-whacking at our local cemetery. Last year, the professional landscapers left gouge marks on the lower stone of my son's grave. We were charged for perpetual care when he was buried, so I was upset by this.

Now, I'm even more concerned. The ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm in a strange situation with my co-worker, "Jordan." We've worked together for three years and have always had a friendly, joking rapport. Lately, though, his comments have crossed a line -- not inappropriate in a HR sense, but overly personal. He teases me about being single, makes remarks about how "picky" I must be and once ...Read more

Dear Annie: I formed a close bond with my former daughter-in-law when she married my son. Even after their divorce -- due to his addiction and abuse -- she and the kids lived with us for a while, and we remained close. Over the years, I supported her through abusive relationships, helped care for the children and was always there when she ...Read more

Dear Annie: Over 10 years ago, I worked with a nonprofit organization on a contract project and became friendly with a few people on their team. I genuinely admired their mission, and when I moved on, I started making a modest monthly donation to support their work. It felt good to stay connected to something meaningful, even in a small way.

...Read more

Dear Annie: I read with interest your response to the mother whose spouse undermines her authority in front of their 6-year-old daughter. As a mother, foster parent and now a grandmother, I've seen firsthand how damaging it can be when parents don't present a united front.

Every time one parent undercuts the other, they chip away at that ...Read more

Dear Annie: I often read letters in your column from people -- usually parents, often mothers -- who say they've been cut off by their adult children, sometimes over something that seems minor, like a forwarded Facebook post. As a 70-year-old who's seen this dynamic play out many times, I can't help but wonder: Are we always getting the full ...Read more

Dear Annie: In 1962, I was 14.5 years old and in my first year of junior high. Feeling desperate to be cool, I believed a girl from school when she told me that her brother, who was home on leave from the military, wanted to meet me. I told my mom and dad that I had a babysitting job, and I walked to a neighborhood drugstore where this guy ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have a milestone anniversary coming up. We plan on renting a large home in the south of France for a month and inviting family and close friends to celebrate with us. Some family members and friends know of our intentions and are excited to join us.

The cost to rent this villa for a month is $25-30,000, not including...Read more

Dear Annie: In a nutshell: I have been off social media for about five years, and this year I have made it a resolution to reduce my screen time. My screen time average is down to about an hour a day. If I had a way to measure it, I'd say my mental health has improved greatly.

A year or two before Covid, I decided I was tired of getting into ...Read more

Dear Annie: My partner's mother constantly demands attention, and everything revolves around her. Whenever we're busy or focused on other things, she lashes out -- often hurting those around her, including her grandchildren. She plays favorites, manipulates situations to her advantage and pulls the extended family into her drama. If anyone ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm at a crossroads in my marriage, and I don't know what to do. My husband and I barely talk anymore unless it's about the kids or logistics. There's no connection, no affection -- just a quiet tension that lingers in the background of everything. We've tried counseling, and while it helped us communicate better for a while, ...Read more

Dear Annie: There's a little boy in my son's school -- he's 6 years old -- who has a history of being very physical with other kids, including my son. They were in the same class previously, and my son would come home upset, sometimes with bruises, telling me this boy had hit or shoved him during the day. Thankfully, they're not in the same ...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you and your families a very happy Easter and Passover. Spring is a time to get outdoors and play. It is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. It is a time when the flowers begin to bloom and kittens are born. Below are some of my favorite poems about spring and joy and the innocence and beauty of childhood.

"Spring"...Read more

Dear Annie: My daughter-in-law and I have never had a good relationship, but we tolerate each other because of my son.

I have tried to be a good mother-in-law. I never visit unannounced. When my DIL had surgery for breast cancer, I took her to her appointments, and I was even the one to go with her when she rang the bell at the end of her ...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 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 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 Annie: I have a close friend I care about a lot, but there's something that's starting to get under my skin -- and I'm not sure if I should say something or let it slide.

Whenever we go out -- whether it's lunch, drinks or concerts -- we usually agree to split the cost. But somehow, I always end up paying more. She's "forgotten her ...Read more