DEAR ABBY: For a long time, I thought I was unable to have children. My doctors told me it would be a difficult process and my chances were low due to chronic illnesses I live with. I have accepted this fact, because having a family was the reason I divorced in my late 20s. My […]

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to “George” for 35 years. I was pregnant when I married. We had dated only five months. We came from families that believed you had to “do the right thing” and get married. I love my husband, but never as deeply as I thought I should. I had feelings […]

DEAR ABBY: My older brother has had a tumultuous marriage to a manipulative, alcoholic, just-plain-mean woman. It has been bad over their entire 40-year marriage, including her physically assaulting him. He called the police the last time and had them take her away. She eventually kicked him out, and he went to stay at our […]

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s family won’t stop asking me when I’m going to quit my job and work for my husband. My mother-in-law worked for my father-in-law at their small business for pretty much her whole career. My husband recently bought his dad’s business, which is going really well. I have been ambitious in my […]

DEAR ABBY: I am fortunate to have a great relationship with my in-laws. We live half a continent apart, so although we video chat often, we get to see them in person only two or three times a year. They are recent retirees, and we are planning to relocate together to a new location that […]

DEAR ABBY: I have been friends for 20 years with a kind and caring woman, “Brenda.” We always shared life moments, until recently. I thought of her children as my own. Her son got married (not in a formal or traditional wedding) and didn’t want anyone there except his parents, siblings and a few friends. […]

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to a wonderful man for 17 years. Recently, I reconnected online with an old high school flame. We have been talking about my hometown, which is where he lives. So many things have changed! I moved away more than 30 years ago and have been missing it lately. While […]

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for eight years. We live separately, and I live with my son. The problem is my boyfriend says he loves me but doesn’t seem to like spending time with me. He would rather mow my lawn than spend that same amount of time just hanging out […]

DEAR ABBY: I have been with my partner, “Hank,” for 25 years, but although he is legally separated, he is still married. We have lived together for 24 of these 25 years. He has two adult children with his wife. I used to be married and have two adult children with my ex-husband. Hank and […]

DEAR ABBY: Over the course of 12 years, my husband and I have gifted more than $400,000 in down-payment money to our adult daughter and her husband. Both are now in their mid-40s. I gave them most of this money behind my husband’s back. Recently, my daughter has been pressing me for more money, saying, […]