DEAR ABBY: I’m a 24-year-old woman who has been married for four years. My husband, “Jerry,” and I have two young boys. Jerry is military. I stay at home with the kids and work part time online on an associate degree. We struggle financially, but our basic needs are met and, overall, I’m happy with […]
Dear Abby
Mom threatens divorce after teens find their dad’s stash
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are going on 19 years of marriage and have three teenage girls. We have had multiple rounds of marriage counseling, mostly with good results, although the benefits seem to be short-lived. Most of our problems have stemmed from my husband’s drinking or smoking pot. He’s not abusive, he’s a […]
Pastor having affair keeps his engagement under wraps
DEAR ABBY: A new single pastor was assigned to my church. He asked if I was single and if I had kids. I told him no, and we began having an affair. For two years, it was all in secret. Then I began noticing that a single lady from his previous church would visit. He […]
Couple’s house is not their home with parents next door
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been living together for almost five years. His parents bought a house a few doors down. They pop in whenever they feel like it and even walk into our bedroom while we are in bed. I need this to stop. His mother and I had a falling-out in […]
Far-flung family makes little effort to stay in touch
DEAR ABBY: I am a 72-year-old divorcee. I live alone in a 55-and-older community where I have many friends and an active life. My three adult children are ages 37 to 43. The eldest lives out of the country with my 12-year-old grandson. My other son and his wife live 2,000 miles away and have […]
Too much togetherness puts pressure on happy relationship
DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with a wonderful man, “Andy,” for two years. I couldn’t ask for a better partner. We are both divorced with children, and they get along like brothers and sisters. Even though our marriages ended, mine wasn’t an ordeal. My ex and I both knew it wasn’t working […]
Mom is pressured to teach native language to daughter
DEAR ABBY: I came to this country 30 years ago, at 16. My parents were very abusive and neglectful, so my uncle in the U.S. took me in. I have worked with therapists, and my mind is clear about my past. I now have a 14-year-old daughter. I do not speak to her in my […]
WIfe grapples with family’s history of sexual dysfunction
DEAR ABBY: When my husband and I were first married, I had no idea why his mother and sisters were so hostile. When they started treating our children the same way, my husband finally addressed the issue. We moved out of town, and he finally told me that when he was in his teens and […]
Parents clash over who should discipline their children
DEAR ABBY: I am a single father of three wonderful kids. When my wife and I separated, we agreed to 50/50 custody and a property settlement. Everything went smoothly. A year later I requested, and was granted, full custody of my children. Their mom has visitation, but that’s it. Shortly after my separation, I met […]
Son helps himself to contents of late grandfather’s house
DEAR ABBY: My father passed away a few months ago. My brother lives out of state, so emptying the house has been up to me. Shortly after the funeral, my adult son (the only grandchild) arrived and loaded his car with all the toilet paper, paper towels, light bulbs, cleaning products, etc. He did it […]