ArcaMax

Dear Eric: How do you stay friends with someone who puts zero interest in maintaining an adult friendship?

My best friend from high school (of more than 20 years), had kids a few years ago. The kids are young but out of the baby stage. My friend constantly asks to hang out but never offers anything that is not totally kid-focused. Think story ...Read more

Dear Eric: My brother and his wife just had their first child, and the first grandchild on both sides of the family. I am so excited to be an aunt, and love the baby. So does my mom, however she keeps saying something to my brother and I that we both are getting tired of.

She has said on multiple occasions: I love the baby more than you two (my...Read more

Dear Eric: I am friends with a person I dated for a short while. We’re in our 50s. The only reason I still see her is that she doesn’t have any other friends.

She is also a sole parent to a difficult teen who also has no friends and has no desire to make any (she tells me this). I do not enjoy her company, although she is a good person.

It...Read more

Dear Eric: We live in a suburban neighborhood where the homes are fairly close together. We have a very nice screened-in porch and a large deck that we added two years ago. Typically fall is our favorite time of year to be outside on our deck, and we like to eat breakfast and dinner on our porch.

Our next-door neighbors are heavy pot smokers ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband of six months and I do pretty much everything together. I recommended we watch a Netflix series together, and we are both deeply engrossed.

The other night, I was tired from my workday, and he suggested I go to bed early. He mentioned finishing the latest episode, since it had just started. I said that sounded fine. I woke...Read more

Dear Eric: My psychologically disabled adult son who also suffers from chronic physical illnesses will live with me for the remainder of my life as I care for him.

His medications, doctor visits and hospitalizations with multiple surgeries take up most of his monthly disability income. I was informed by my attorney to have an executor of my ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have rented a room in my home to a woman for the past year. Her finances are limited. I charge her $400 per month versus the going rate in my area of $1,000. Per the rental agreement, I pay two-thirds of the utility bill, and she pays one-third. She spent this past summer visiting family. When she returned, she told me she would not...Read more

Dear Eric: Two months ago, I lost the love of my life when he died unexpectedly. I have known him for almost 10 years, first as friends that evolved into serious dating.

I learned a week after he passed that while we were a couple he had another current girlfriend and several more partners. His best friend confided afterwards that I was his ...Read more

Dear Eric: My spouse of 38 years died a year ago. He was 72, I’m now 72. He was a bit of a loner and had a strained relationship with his only sibling, his younger sister.

The last 10 years he had completely cut communication off with her. Honestly, the main reason was that he just didn’t want to be her friend. She’s a nice, helpful ...Read more

Dear Eric: Almost 10 years ago, my husband had a life-changing car accident. It left him with neurological issues, some of which still linger to this day. He was unable to convey to me the depths of his emotional pain and frustrations due to the neurological trauma, and I, rather than showing empathy, became a nagging, frustrated harpy, ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband, “Tom,” and I got on well with his brother, “Dick,” until last year, when Dick became executor of their parents’ estate. Instead of liquidating it and splitting it with Tom, which is what he is required to do, he secretly paid himself more than $100,000 for the first year – more than double the authorized amount...Read more

Dear Eric: We live on a lake and love hosting our great-nieces and nephews on school breaks and the entire family on vacations. My husband and I have no children. Our niece's families are dear to us.

Our 11-year-old great-nephew has been gaming now for about a year. When he comes to visit, instead of reading, playing cards or board games with ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am trying to divorce my spouse, but he is using suicidal ideation to get out of the responsibility. He was disappointed to receive my divorce petition. He contacted a bunch of people via text that day and got taken to the hospital by the police, who did a welfare check. He stayed there for three weeks.

Next, when I offered to try ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have two brothers that have recently failed to send a birthday gift or even a card to my 12-year-old daughter. My wife and I on the other hand always send birthday gifts or money and a card to their kids, our nieces and nephews.

My daughter took note of not getting a gift from them this past year in a sad kind of manner. She enjoys...Read more

Dear Eric: Several months ago, I saw a part-time position I wanted to apply for. I would also be able to keep a job I currently have if selected for the new position.

As part of the application process, I needed two references. I asked a current supervisor for one. I told her I would be able to keep working for her if chosen for the new ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband and I have just returned from a driving trip in the Southwest. Several days ago, he was standing in a fast-food line when another man started a conversation with him. When the man asked, “where is home for you?” My husband responded by saying "Los Angeles.” The other man said, "I’m so sorry for you."

This is not ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband and I have just returned from a driving trip in the Southwest. Several days ago, he was standing in a fast-food line when another man started a conversation with him. When the man asked, “where is home for you?” My husband responded by saying "Los Angeles.” The other man said, "I’m so sorry for you."

This is not ...Read more

Dear Eric: My friend has been totally engrossed with messaging celebrities through Telegram. So far, she has been in contact with four musicians. Two of the four have promised to come visit with her.

After the first celebrity visit fell through, I asked her repeatedly to block this contact. She vacillates between blocking and then unblocking ...Read more

Dear Eric: My sister-in-law is one of the kindest and most giving people I know. She volunteers at her church, at our local YMCA and at our golf club. She has driven friends several states away for medical treatments.

However, my brother/her husband of 30-plus years is not a social guy, and this irritates her to no end. She will complain to ...Read more

Dear Eric: When my mother passed away, her trust was split mostly between me and my sister, with a small percentage to my sister's two kids. My mother and my sister lived together. My mother put the down payment on their house, and they split the mortgage and utilities. My sister covered most of the mortgage.

I have always imagined gifting a ...Read more