ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in my 20s, and lately, I've been struggling with a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out). Most of my friends are in a position where they can afford to go out regularly, whether it's dinners at trendy restaurants, nights out at bars or even weekend getaways. I am on a much tighter budget, and I can't keep up financially....Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Two months ago, my parents asked if they could stay with my fiancee and me for a few nights. (They live in a different part of the country.) After checking with my fiancee, we agreed, and my parents are coming for a four-night visit.

Last week, my fiancee announced that her mother and sister, who also live in a different part...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 58 years old and have seven grandchildren who mean the world to me. One of my sons, however, only seems to reach out when he needs me to watch his kids. I adore spending time with them -- they're all under 5 -- and I don't mind helping out at all. I have serious health issues, so every moment with them is precious. I hope to ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My younger sister and I were close growing up. We didn't have many friends, but we were always willing to play games and have fun with each other. At one point, my sister said she wanted to marry me when we grew up. I didn't think much of it because we were still kids, and I figured she didn't know there were different types of love. ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm struggling to cope with the toxic dynamics within my team at work. Instead of collaborating to solve problems or improve processes, it feels like everyone is constantly pointing fingers and blaming one another for mistakes. This blame game has created a tense and unproductive environment, and it's starting to take a toll on ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a 67-year-old man who works out regularly at a gym. The gym is open 24/7, and members have a key fob to enter since it is not always staffed.

I was exercising at 9 p.m., and the only other person there was a young, attractive woman, probably in her 40s. We exchanged pleasantries. When I was finished with my workout, I ...Read more

Dear Annie: My daughter took in some kittens that a mama cat delivered on her property. She was very selective about who she would give them to and wound up only finding a home for one of them. She decided to keep two of the kittens, along with her existing two cats, which left three without homes. She kept them for seven months and then ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I am a middle-aged slender woman born into a family of women who have always struggled with weight. Ever since I can remember, I have been subjected to nasty jibes and microaggressions regarding my weight.

My siblings have always kept a close eye on my waistline for clues that I could be gaining. They have also bullied and excluded ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 13-year-old daughter recently got into trouble at school, and now I'm torn about whether to let her go ahead with the birthday party we've been planning for her.

The situation at school was serious: She was caught being disrespectful to a teacher and breaking some of the school rules. When I spoke to her about it, she seemed ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We have friends who seem to think every little milestone should be celebrated like a small wedding. They hold celebrations and attach a wish list, sometimes with hundreds of gift ideas, to every invitation. Birthday parties, gender-reveal parties, baby showers (for every child, often asking for a box of diapers as well as a ...Read more

Dear Readers: Wishing you all a very happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day!

I thought it would be a good time to find some impactful quotes from presidential inaugural speeches and from King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I found quotes that inspire, unify and motivate audiences toward a shared vision for the nation. Comparing ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My sister, brother and I lost our mom to dementia six months ago. We needed to start cleaning out the house. My brother, who lives in assisted living was unable to help.

When I mentioned to my sister that I was going to start cleaning out the kitchen, she told me she didn't want me there alone. I told her when a person offers to help...Read more

I'm the wifely stereotype in one aspect: I'm the one in the relationship who lets their car decay and slightly hides it from their spouse for as long as they can. Just until we have to swap cars because his gets better gas mileage for a trip. That's when I have to spill the beans: My heater stopped working, the brakes have gotten squeakier, and ...Read more