Thanksgiving hostess decides it’s time to cut guest list DEAR ABBY: I know it’s early, but my problem is Thanksgiving. For the past several years we have included four other families for Thanksgiving dinner in our home. Their children are married now, and including their spouses and stepchildren, the number of guests is now close […]

DEAR ABBY: Several months ago I made a terrible mistake and e-mailed “Tom” — a friend I had a crush on — some topless pictures of myself. Tom rejected me because he is happily married. I am married, too, and when my husband, “Jake,” discovered the pictures on our computer and realized what I had […]

Insominia is putting a strain on couple DEAR ABBY: I have been with my boyfriend, “Simon,” for a year and a half. He’s a good person, but my problem is I suffer from insomnia and have a hard time staying asleep. It is extremely frustrating — not to mention lonely — lying in the dark. […]

Man comes out of the closet, surprises friends DEAR ABBY: I spent my high school years chasing girls and participating in sports. I made good grades and was popular with peers and faculty. I have since graduated and entered college. I have also come out of the closet as gay. Due to popular sites such […]

Issues of color still ripple through identity DEAR ABBY: “Wondering in Goldsboro, N.C.,” asked why President Barack Obama is considered to be African-American when he’s biracial. While your response was accurate, you missed an opportunity to educate your readers by failing to give the historical context as to why most people refer to him as […]

Meaning of ‘African-American’ reflects past, present DEAR ABBY: On July 23, “Wondering” asked why President Obama is considered to be African-American and you responded that the term “African-American” is used in this country as a label that describes skin color. However, in the U.S. the term is generally applied to black Americans of slave ancestry. […]

Disabled daughter can’t escape moms violent anger DEAR ABBY: I need your help badly. I am 39 years old and live with my mother due to a physical disability. Mom becomes violent when she gets mad or upset. If she’s having a bad day, I can expect her to be in my face (literally). She […]

Anxiety-ridden student seeks help with relaxing DEAR ABBY: I am sick of being afraid of everything in my life. I’m a 21-year-old college student who wakes up every morning wondering what will go wrong today or what I am going to screw up this time. I don’t know how to get beyond the little misfortunes […]

DEAR ABBY: My husband berates and belittles me constantly. He calls me “worthless, stupid, lazy, no-good and crazy.” He controls my every move and follows me around the kitchen when I’m trying to cook. I got so nervous last week that I dropped a kettle of soup and burned myself. He followed me into the […]

Classmate’s criticism stuns student into silence DEAR ABBY: I’m one of the smartest people in my seventh-grade class. Sometimes it’s hard being that person. Once, when I was in fifth grade, someone came up to me and told me, “No offense, but I think you’re a know-it-all.” Let me tell you, that did not feel […]