DEAR ABBY: I’m a widow who never thought I’d consider marrying again until I met “Lester” online two years ago. Being with him makes me feel like a teenager. He holds my hand when we go for walks, brings me flowers and is a wonderful lover. My problem is he’s taking care of his sister, […]

DEAR ABBY: I’m a senior in high school and I’m stressed out about the idea of driving. I took driver’s ed during the summer and passed the course. Instead of being excited about taking that first step toward independence, I’m scared to death. I know the goal of driver’s ed is to learn safety precautions […]

DEAR ABBY: Before we went on vacation, we trusted our 15-year-old neighbor “Mia” to feed our cat, take in the mail and water the plants. While we were away, she invited some of her friends and their friends to our home. Some of them she knew by their nicknames and only for a short time. […]

DEAR ABBY: I am in a happy and healthy long-term relationship. Since neither of us wants kids, we don’t feel the need to marry. Because I don’t want children, my grandmother has decided I don’t deserve any inheritance. She has rewritten her will, leaving everything to my younger cousin who is the only grandchild likely […]

DEAR ABBY: My son invited two friends to our home for the weekend. We had never met them before, but they seemed nice. At bedtime, the young man was on the couch and the girl was in our spare bedroom. In the middle of the night, I was awakened to loud lovemaking noises. They grew […]

DEAR ABBY: “Pregnant with Apprehension” (Sept. 9) said she’s dreading the birth of her second baby because her fiance’s mother wants to witness the birth. Apparently, “PWA” wants only her mother and her fiance, “Cliff,” in the delivery room. You said her wishes should be paramount. I agree. I am a labor and delivery RN […]

DEAR ABBY: Our neighbor’s son, “Donny,” has become a regular fixture in our home. His parents divorced years ago, and his father is terminally ill. Donny has “adopted” me as a father figure. We have spent a great deal of time together. Not having a son — I have daughters — I admit that being […]

DEAR ABBY: Over the past five years, family gatherings have become increasingly stressful. When they come here, my nieces don’t control their young children. Last year after everyone left, I sat down and cried! The mess was horrific, and the damage to my house and yard was dumbfounding. What’s worse is they didn’t seem to […]

DEAR ABBY: Twenty-four years ago, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Energizer spotted a disturbing trend. Many fatalities were taking place in homes without working smoke alarms. In response, the “Change Your Clock Change Your Battery” campaign was developed to remind people to test and change their smoke alarm batteries each fall when […]

DEAR ABBY: I am a 38-year-old mom and have been single for the last 10 years. I live alone with my 11-year-old daughter and support us without assistance. I work full-time and rely on my mother to take my daughter to school and pick her up while I’m at work. Because of this, anytime I […]