DEAR ABBY: My widowed father-in-law is 77 and my mom is 71. I try to spend time with them so they won’t be lonely. The problem is they now have only one interest — gambling. They are only happy if someone will take them to a casino. A simple dinner or movie is no longer […]

DEAR ABBY: My son and his girlfriend decided to go to an afternoon matinee. Two older women sat down behind them. When the movie started, one of them began a loud, running commentary to the other. After a few minutes, my son and his girlfriend moved to seats four rows farther down, but they could […]

DEAR ABBY: When my stepsister, “Skye,” stays here every other weekend, I not only have to share my room with her, but I’m also expected to spend all my time with her. We’re both 15. I have nothing against her, but she’s not someone I would choose as a friend. It’s a small room for […]

DEAR ABBY: I have been writing to an inmate from the Florida prison system for about two years. It has slowly developed into more than a friendship. “Mike” is a born-again Christian, as am I. He doesn’t get out until 2013 at the earliest, so we have plenty of time to see where this goes. […]

DEAR ABBY: When I went to visit my mother, I found her lying on the kitchen floor. I asked her what she was doing there, and she said the floor feels cold and hard and soothes her back. Abby, my mother has two very expensive beds in her home, and there is no reason for […]

DEAR ABBY: I’m 25 and have been married to “Bob” for five years. The problem is, I’m in love with his 53-year-old father. I have always been attracted to “Charlie,” but my feelings have escalated since Bob’s mother died last year. After the funeral, Charlie was lonely and started coming to our house. Most of […]

DEAR ABBY: I would like to comment on your May 29 reply to “Helping or Cheating?” the young lady who has been helping her boyfriend with his homework. I can see where someone might find this a problem. I retired a few years ago after 35 years as an educator and still substitute teach three […]

DEAR ABBY: Summer is the season for celebration — beach trips, picnics in the park and barbecues. But it can be a dangerous time for dogs. Every year, thousands of dogs die after being left in overheated parked cars. Heatstroke can come on quickly and result in brain damage or death. Dogs are prone to […]

DEAR ABBY: We sent a check to our niece a month before her marriage as a wedding gift to her and her fiance. The amount was generous, and we felt any young couple would be delighted to receive it. We also attended their out-of-state wedding. Four months after we sent the check, it had neither […]

DEAR ABBY: Our daughter gave birth to an adorable little boy three years ago. We love “Connor” dearly, but my husband is obsessed with him. He wants our grandson at our house every weekend from the time we are done working on Friday until Sunday evening or Monday morning. My husband wants to take Connor […]