DEAR ABBY: My parents told me that a member of their congregation carries a licensed gun when he’s in church. He is not a law enforcement officer or a private security guard, but keeps the gun on him “for protection.” When I asked what the pastor has to say about this, I was told, “He […]

DEAR ABBY: I am a soldier currently deployed in Iraq. My unit’s mission has ended, but we must remain here for the next two months with no real mission to occupy our time. Because of this, I — along with other soldiers — spend free time in the gym. Recently, a female American civilian contractor […]

DEAR ABBY: “Anonymous in Washington State” (March 25) can’t stand her 10-year-old daughter but adores her two sons. I have worked for more than 20 years for a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve parenting and prevent child abuse. ”Anonymous” can access more information from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services […]

DEAR ABBY: I am sending along a gift suggestion for Father’s Day for the dad who doesn’t “need or want anything.” I recently celebrated a major birthday and my four dear adult children, all living in different parts of the country, collaborated electronically to record some of their favorite memories of their years at home […]

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are writing about our only daughter, “Jessica,” who has been married to “Ron” for three years. Jessica recently expressed displeasure (initiated by Ron) about how close we are with Ron’s parents. They feel our friendship is somehow unusual or threatening. The in-laws are aware of it and don’t intend […]

DEAR ABBY: I’m working on a school project with several other girls, but I have an issue with one of them. “Sara” wanted to write the paper for our project, which is a huge part of our grade. Once she started writing it, we all realized she wasn’t very good at it. I felt I […]

DEAR ABBY: I am in my 40s and have never lost anyone close to me. Unfortunately, my darling mother-in-law has terminal cancer. I am now preoccupied that people’s spirits are near us after they die. Please don’t laugh, but it gives me the creeps. I don’t want to think my mother-in-law will watch me making […]

DEAR ABBY: My wife, “Alana,” and I have been married for 14 years. In many ways our marriage is good, but our sex life is horrible. In my opinion, it has never been good. As time passes, I feel more and more anger toward her. Alana is attractive and physically fit; I don’t understand her […]

DEAR ABBY: My friends and neighbors thought I had the best husband, and our children thought he was the greatest dad. But on the day he died, I found out he had been having sex with another woman. I went to visit him in the hospital and overheard the whole thing as he was talking […]

DEAR ABBY: My mother-in-law is upset with my wife and me for sneaking out of a wedding reception early (before the dinner was served). There was a long delay between the reception and the dinner, and a DJ was playing loud, deafening rock ‘n’ roll music. We were seated near a speaker and it was […]