ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 4-year-old son absolutely hates going to day care. Every morning is a struggle. He cries the moment he realizes it's time to go and clings to me when I try to drop him off. It's not just a passing phase or a little separation anxiety; this has been going on for months, and nothing we do seems to help.

My husband and I have ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What's happened to mealtime conversation?

We have friends who are perfectly capable of talking about all kinds of interesting subjects, but only so long as there is no food in front of them. If we meet at restaurants or for meals at each other's houses, all they ever talk about is the food. They grill (sorry!) waitstaff at ...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 ABBY: A few years ago, my daughter went "no contact" with both sides of our family -- grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, as well as cousins. Since then, I have been struggling with how I should answer acquaintances who ask, "How is she doing?" as well as those who ask, "Do you have children?"

I have been told by friends and family ...Read more

I'm probably not supposed to admit this, especially as a writer, but I'm not afraid of AI. I don't think it's here to steal our souls or our jobs. In fact, I think it might help us rediscover what's uniquely human and how we feel about those core principles of ourselves.

According to the general vibe on social media, AI is the next tidal wave ...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 ABBY: My parents have been divorced for almost 30 years. My father is still furious with my mother, and she is indifferent toward him.

My son is about to graduate from high school, and both grandparents want to attend the ceremony and dinner afterward. However, Dad refuses to be in proximity, or even sight line, to my mom. He wants me to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My dad's a heavy smoker and has been for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, he used to smoke inside the house constantly. I remember the smell being everywhere-- in my clothes, in the walls, even in my toys. I developed some health issues that I believe were tied to all that secondhand smoke exposure, and it's ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Self-service fountain machines at pizza parlors and delis have the different sugary sodas labeled with big buttons, while there are often smaller black "water" and "soda" buttons below.

I have always believed that the aerated water dispensed by the "soda" button is still just water, meaning I can fill up a cup for free. After...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 ABBY: I started a new job a year and a half ago. It's in a small office. My boss and I are the only employees. I enjoy the job very much, but there's an aspect of it that has really started to wear on me. Increasingly, my boss has been asking me to take care of personal tasks for him that are unrelated to the business. I understand that he ...Read more

DEAR READERS: I just got a reality check from my girlfriend. She left me. In our last argument, she told me that I don't know how to love and that I push away everyone who tries to do right by me. I think I might've crossed a line this time. We've had fights before, but they usually end in us taking space or agreeing to disagree. This time I ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My mother-in-law and sister-in-law wore white gowns to my wedding. Their actions were so obvious that guests commented on it, and the DJ asked for "the real bride to please stand up."

Why would they do this on my wedding day?

GENTLE READER: A mean-spirited prank gone wrong? Regardless, it does not bode well for your future ...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 ABBY: I'm in my early 40s and have been working hard since my mid 20s. I have a nice house that my wife and I are trying to pay off and two kids. We live pretty comfortably, but by no means are we well off.

My dad is very well off, and he finances my older brother to live abroad. My younger sister, who still lives at home with him, is ...Read more