DEAR ABBY: My mother lives on Social Security and has very little savings left since Dad died last year. I manage her affairs, and I’m trying to encourage her to save some of her money for emergencies. The problem is my 38-year-old brother, “Jeff.” He will not keep a job, and he’s burning through the […]

Boyfriend questions wisdom of long-distance commitment DEAR ABBY: I am a 20-year-old woman who has been in a committed relationship with my boyfriend, “Ian,” for three years. I attend a university out of the country, so our relationship is mostly long-distance. We are in love and have discussed a future after I graduate. Ian says […]

Woman is curious to know details of beau’s divorce DEAR ABBY: I have recently started seeing a wonderful man who is divorced. It doesn’t bother me. I know we all make mistakes. My friends are telling me I need to find out why his marriage ended, because it might signal potential problems to watch out […]

Woman discovers the truth in text to ex DEAR ABBY: “Ralph” and I have been married two years. Two nights ago we had an argument, and he got mad and left. He was gone three hours. When he returned he screamed at me for what seemed like an hour. Finally, he went to bed. I […]

Having friends is essential for kids DEAR ABBY: I am writing this in response to the letter from “Trying to Make a Difference in Ohio” (April 21). She is the 12-year-old girl who wants to help other students be more accepting of kids with special needs. My name is Anthony Kennedy Shriver, and I am […]

DEAR ABBY by Abigail Van Buren DAUGHTER’S CARELESS DECISION IS CAUTIONARY TALE FOR OTHERS DEAR ABBY: My daughter, age 15, was just diagnosed with the herpes virus, and she is devastated by the news. I had cautioned her to wait until she was older to become sexually active because I understand that decisions made in […]

DEAR ABBY: During college I had a great friend, “Julia.” We were roommates and had several classes together. When I became engaged, Julia was my obvious pick for maid of honor. She did a very nice job, and I will be forever grateful. After college, Julia met “Dirk.” This man is a spoiled child who […]

DEAR ABBY: I would like to make my father’s final years of life happy ones. The problem is, Dad is a bigot. He is loud, opinionated and verbally abusive to and about people. Visiting him is stressful because I know the conversation will, at some point, turn to how terrible a certain person, country or […]

DEAR ABBY: My little sister, “Cynda,” committed suicide nine years ago. She was only 13. She did it because she was being severely bullied at school. I am now a mother, and my 7-year-old daughter has been asking about Aunt Cynda and how she died. I have told her that Auntie Cynda had a bad […]

DEAR ABBY: A co-worker, “Marilyn,” recently returned from time off with a noticeably different face. She said nothing about it, so we didn’t either for a while. Finally, one woman remarked to her that she appeared to have had “some work done.” Abby, Marilyn denied it! What’s considered proper here? Should we have said something […]