DEAR ABBY: America’s tradesmen — plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, roofers, masons and more — get very little respect. In fact, the only time these skilled professionals get our attention is when we have an emergency. This lack of regard is leading our nation down an unfortunate pathway, as fewer and fewer young people pursue jobs […]

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 41-year-old divorced mother of two and grandmother of two. I own my own business, God blessed me with my first home two years ago, and I’m happier than I have been in years. I’m writing because I have been seeing a man for about six months whom I met at church. […]

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for six years. We finally moved in together a year ago. Things have been going pretty well, with the exception of an unusual habit of his that has become more evident since living together. He spends anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours in the […]

DEAR ABBY: My daughter is annoyed with me because I’m not jumping up and down with joy over my grandson’s forthcoming wedding. Yes, I am happy they’re getting married, but how excited can I get? The two have been sexually involved since they met in high school four years ago. She was 16; he was […]

DEAR ABBY: My father left my mother after 32 years of marriage. To say Mom was devastated would be putting it mildly. She tried to keep things cordial for the sake of her four kids, but Dad spurned her efforts. My three brothers and I are now married with children of our own. Only recently […]

DEAR ABBY: I’m really bad when it comes to speaking. It’s hard for me to squeak out the few words I can. I am shy and not very sociable, so when I’m with people, even my two friends, I feel like I come across as rude. I never have the right things to say. When […]

DEAR ABBY: I am a 62-year-old lady who has been a dedicated mother, helpful grandma and a good wife. I don’t mean to imply that I’m perfect, but my heart has always been in the right place. I’m writing now because I have a problem. I have been so used to being a mother that […]

DEAR ABBY: I am a widow with four teenagers. My husband died four years ago, and I have been seeing “Ken” — a wonderful man — for 18 months. He is four years older than I am, has never been married and has no kids. He had very little contact with mine until I was […]

DEAR ABBY: Why must we walk on eggshells around our adult children? I have many friends with the same problem. Only one of them is able to open up and tell her kids how she feels. You advised if a daughter goes out with a bum, learn to find something good about the bum. I’d […]

DEAR ABBY: I really need some advice or I’m going to cry my eyes out. I’m a 14-year-old girl and I really like this guy at school. I’m shy, so instead of telling him, I drew a picture of him, wrote on the back that I like him and taped it to his locker so […]