DEAR ABBY: My mom and stepdad (“Hugh”) are divorcing after 20 years of marriage. Mom has been involved with scammers for the last two years, giving away money and her Social Security number. I no longer talk to her because of this. She actually expected me to drive her places to meet these men and […]
Dear Abby
Son’s public outburst sparks bitter feud with father
DEAR ABBY: My wife of 47 years passed away 16 months ago after living with a disability for many years. I took care of her until the end and loved her with all my heart. Nine months after her passing, I became involved with another woman my age. I have two sons, 43 and 46. […]
Husband’s new boyfriend leaves wife fearing for marriage
DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Leon,” and I have been together for 13 years. He is bisexual — gay-leaning. I knew this when we got together. I am 51, and Leon is 32. We still love each other deeply, but he is also in a relationship with a man. His boyfriend is 21. We have an […]
Car alarm repeatedly wakes up sleeping neighbors
DEAR ABBY: I’m fortunate that most of my neighbors are kind and considerate. We’ve all enjoyed sharing each other’s celebrations. However, there’s one family among the five households that we’ve never managed to connect with on a personal level. Despite our efforts, such as giving gifts and food, they have always been unresponsive. While there’s […]
Dad is worried for daughter on the verge of adulthood
DEAR ABBY: I am a single parent of two girls. My oldest, “Becca,” is 17. She has been dating this guy and, as soon as she graduates, plans to move in with him and two of his friends (another couple). What worries me is that their relationship is pretty toxic. They are always fighting. I […]
Mother-in-law has been couple’s roommate for 14 years
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been happily married for 15 years. My mother-in-law, “Pat,” a widow since 1997, has lived with us for the last 14 years. She lived alone in her own apartment when my wife and I first were married but was going through bouts of depression. I initially extended the […]
Alcoholic wants to be in the room for grandchild’s birth
DEAR ABBY: I am an adult child of an alcoholic. My mother is a mean drunk. While growing up, I had to act as her therapist and deal with her co-dependency. I have been lucky to have processed a lot of the trauma in therapy and to have a loving and healthy family of my […]
Man’s delusions put brother in a difficult spot
DEAR ABBY: My younger brother, “Paul,” is 40 and in a rut. He became friends with a friend of mine, “Mitch,” whom I met in college. Paul also became good friends with Mitch’s wife, “Iris.” After a year of close friendship, my brother made a pass at Mitch’s wife during a BBQ. He was promptly […]
Friendship with co-worker fades as aspirations diverge
DEAR ABBY: I had a close friendship with a co-worker. We used to have lunch together and shared many personal and intimate stories. We were the two work newbies, even though I started six months before he did. He has adapted well in the work environment, but I’m still struggling with different personalities and communication […]
Two decades have not healed painful breach in relationship
DEAR ABBY: Twenty years ago, I developed psychosis with a personality change. I did things I’m ashamed of. I had an affair, remarried and moved out of the country, leaving my 13-year-old daughter with my ex-husband. I snapped out of it 15 years ago with the help of a good psychiatrist and excellent medication. I […]