DEAR ABBY: I know some people are obsessed with hoarding things. Is it possible to have an obsession about throwing things away? My mother seems bent on removing every item from our home. Every time I went away as a kid, boxes of books and toys would disappear from my room. I resorted to hiding […]

DEAR ABBY: My parents live nearby and are extremely helpful with my young children. My mom feels the need to be the “fun” grandma, and her way of accomplishing it is to always have sweet treats available for the kids in her home. In my home, she allows them to skip vegetables at dinner and […]

DEAR ABBY: Years ago you gave me some good advice, and now I have a new issue I need help with. My sister, “Rhonda,” and her husband — both in their mid-50s — will be visiting us again this summer. The last time they stayed, we caught them in our backyard smoking pot. My husband […]

DEAR ABBY: I am 18, disabled, and work with a service dog. I would like to offer people a few tips on interacting with service dog owners. Perhaps it will lessen some of the daily frustrations all handlers deal with: 1. Not all service dogs are big dogs. I know several Chihuahuas who save their […]

DEAR ABBY: “Todd” and I have been close friends since eighth grade. We’re now in our mid-20s, and over the years I have gotten to know his family. His mother, “Cindy,” is a kind and darling woman and I like her a lot. The problem is, she has it in her head that I am […]

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Claude,” and I are deeply in love. He’s devoted to me and my son. He brings me candy and flowers and takes me out. He includes my son in everything we do. My problem is, he recently mentioned that he is on the national sex offenders list. He says he didn’t […]

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 15-year-old boy who is trying to figure out my career. I’m with “Jen,” the girl of my dreams, and I intend on being with her forever. We plan to have kids in the future. I want to be a pilot, and Jen wants to be a stay-at-home mom. I realize, though, […]

DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Eric,” and I are newlyweds. Several months ago, with a little coaxing, I shared my previous “history” with him. I used graphic terms and went into great detail. Eric found it extremely exciting, and we both benefited from it. Recently, Eric mentioned how great it would be if I contacted one […]

DEAR ABBY: “Grinched in Iowa” (April 14) was upset that his girlfriend gave his Valentine roses to a stranger after he spent more than $82 on them. Several years ago, when my father was ill with cancer, he sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers to my mother. When I saw them, I commented on how […]

DEAR ABBY: Please remind parents and teenagers that it is “cool” to wear a helmet when riding bikes and skateboards. A child in our town died recently after suffering a head injury, and we have just received word that the son of a close friend (age 23) has started having seizures because of a head […]