Carolyn Hax: Husband procrastinates work — again — and tanks a beach vacation
Husband’s procrastination issues have become his spouse's problem by cutting deeply — and expensively — into family time.
By Carolyn HaxMiss Manners: I’m too embarrassed by my house to host dinners
The letter-writer thinks their house is a “dump” and doesn’t want to invite people for dinner.
By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinAsk Amy: My kid told me I’m selfish for helping others
Mom is shocked by the idea that helping others could be seen as selfish.
By Amy DickinsonAsk Elaine: 24-year-old feels lost in grief a year after sister died
The writer feels they will never be happy again after their sister died from brain cancer.
By Elaine WelterothAsk Amy: My birth mother’s family wants to keep me a secret
Letter-writer found their birth mother’s family, but they want to keep their identity a secret.
By Amy DickinsonMiss Manners: I reconnected with an old friend. Now I remember why I didn’t like her.
Letter writer regrets reconnecting with an old friend who complains about everything.
By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinCarolyn Hax: Is it better to lie about how attracted you are to your partner?
An ex always wanted more compliments, and a letter-writer wonders whether faking it would have helped their marriage survive.
By Carolyn HaxAsk Amy: Best friend says sorry for emotional affair with my husband
Writer is not sure whether to respond to an apology.
By Amy DickinsonCarolyn Hax: They share custody but child cries when she goes with mom
Daughter “cries and is inconsolable” when going to her mother’s.
By Carolyn HaxMiss Manners: How to travel without being a ‘nuisance’ to the locals
This letter writer is worried about being annoying when they travel to areas as a tourist.
By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinCarolyn Hax: His parents keep moving to be near family without asking
The writer is not pleased parents of husband want to relocate close to their family again.
By Carolyn HaxAsk Amy: I’m hurt my stepchildren didn’t acknowledge my mom’s death
Stepchildren skipped the letter-writer’s mother’s funeral and didn’t even offer condolences.
By Amy DickinsonAsk Amy: She’s sad her daughter is skipping her dad’s 80th birthday celebration
Should this mom tell her daughter she’s sad she’s skipping dad’s 80th birthday celebration trip?
By Amy DickinsonMiss Manners: Daughter wants to do a family cruise. No thanks.
Daughter really wants family to go on a cruise together, but the letter writer would rather not.
By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinCarolyn Hax: Relative looks for polite exit from messenger role with ill nephew
How does this letter-writer step down as thoughts-and-prayers messenger between loved ones and an ailing nephew?
By Carolyn HaxMiss Manners: Grandparents will surely fall asleep at grandson’s show
Letter writer already knows their elderly parents will fall asleep at grandson’s show.
By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinAsk Amy: Siblings wonder if it’s worth finding their biological father
Letter writer and brother were the product of their mother’s affairs and still don’t know much about their biological father.
By Amy DickinsonCarolyn Hax: After dad’s death, their progressive-activist mom marries a bigot
A letter writer feels the loss of both parents after widowed progressive mom stands by her racist, homophobic new husband.
By Carolyn HaxAsk Sahaj: My cousin was my bestie. She dropped me ‘like a hot potato.’
A reader feels hurt after their cousin stopped emailing then said she has no time to chat.
By Sahaj Kaur KohliCarolyn Hax: Gynecologist turns appointments into lectures on losing weight
She dreads her yearly OB/GYN appointment because her doctor won't stop pressuring her to lose weight.
By Carolyn Hax