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I’m a 25-year-old woman dating and very much in love with my boyfriend of two and a half years. My boyfriend, “Jay” is physically disabled and is in his 40’s, which may alarm some people, but has never been in issue in either of our families. Jay’s mum moved in with Jay when he first bought his house many years ago, leaving her husband behind in their old house. After that, his sister (let’s call her Lu) also moved in with Jay. My issue is with his mother. Whilst she is capable of being nice at times, she’s also emotionally manipulative, controlling and paranoid. For instance, when Jay and I first got…

My partner and I have been together for two years. We met through an online dating site, and in the beginning of our relationship we asked each other the usual questions (“Have you ever been married?” “Do you have any children?” Etc.). We both said neither of us had ever been married before nor did we have any children. Fast forward to two months ago. I found out that my partner got married nine years earlier. It was up in Canada, and, as it was a same sex marriage and not recognized here in the U.S., she figured it was never a “real marriage.” My partner tells me she only married this…

It’s time again for Shortcuts. For every question, I’ll give my advice in just a few sentences because sometimes the answer to a person’s question is so obvious and the need to hear it so great that being as clear and frank as possible is simply the best way to go. I am in my first year of college, and I have started dating a guy I met here. He treats me very well, and I’m happy with him. However, it makes me feel terrible to say this, but I am sorely embarrassed by him. He is very overweight, has poor personal hygiene, dresses terribly, and has numerous bad habits such as…

My girlfriend and I do not have any children and already her parents show up at our home unannounced. My girlfriend brought it to their attention and they have since decreased the number of unannounced visits. But now what they do is show up at our house while we are both at work without even telling us. I have come home to both of them sitting in my house watching Netflix while my partner is still at work. I don’t understand why they would even want to be at my house if no one is home. When my partner asks them why, they use our dog as an excuse, saying that they…

I just got done reading your column, “My Boyfriend Has Remained Close to His Ex’s Daughter.” I have a very similar problem; however, the girl in question is 17 years old. My boyfriend and I have been together for four years now, and two years ago we began picking her up so she could spend time with his three children, who are her half-siblings (through her mother). My boyfriend had not taken any interest in spending time with her or picking her up in the first two years we were together; he had the opportunity eight years ago to take custody of the girl when he took custody of his own children….

New readers, welcome to Dear Wendy, a relationship advice blog. Read some of the most popular Dear Wendy posts here. If you don’t find the info you need in this column, please visit the Dear Wendy archives or the forums (you can even start your own thread), do a search in the search bar, or submit a question for advice at wendy(AT)dearwendy.com. I am a 25-year-old woman who has been dating my 25-year-old boyfriend for a little over two years. Since the moment I laid eyes on him, I have been completely in love. Although I do not technically live with him, I consume more than a drawer or two for my…

I am 48 and live in a small town in a home that is presently rundown and in need of lots of repairs. This was the home I shared for about eighteen years with my ex-husband. I’ve been divorced nine years and am engaged to a 52-year-old man who has lived with me for two years. I have two children: a 25-year-old daughter, who moved last year with her boyfriend and is working on a second college degree, and my 22-year-old son, who was living in a dorm at college until he messed up some classes and is now basically starting over with online classes while living back at home. My relationship…

For a few years now, I have been desperately feeling the need for a child in my life. I have two nephews who are my entire world. When I went through a time where I was not sure I’d ever be able to have a baby (struggling with low fertility), it made me so depressed that I cried every time I saw a newborn. But here’s the thing: Though I picture my life with children, I can’t picture a man I love. I’ve just never been in real love. I’ve been in love with the idea of my boyfriends, of having someone there to share my life with, but never in love…