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Guess what today is?! It’s Lurker Introduction Day (Take 7), a day when lurkers on this website are invited to come out of hiding and show themselves. It’s also a day I totally made up. But, look, I know what it’s like. I’ve been before, and am, a lurker on different sites. You read along for weeks or maybe months (maybe even years??) without ever having an intention to NOT participate — it just sort of happens that way. You might have things to say in the comments, but they’ve already been said a dozen or so other ways by other people — people who comment all the time. Or, maybe you’re…

I’m a 25-year-old who’s never really been in a serious relationship despite wanting to find the one so bad. Truth is I’m quirky and often suffer from social anxiety in my intimate relationships. But about eight months ago I did fall in love. I fell in love the night I met this guy — he was my roommate’s best friend. We started sleeping together straight away. He told me pretty quick that he wanted a relationship. It was quite full-on, and, I gotta admit, I was scared of it. His best mate was a big alpha guy who cheated on his girl, and my guy was pretty similar in terms of being…

I’m a 31-year-old, single guy and at a point in my life where I’d like to find a great woman, settle down and perhaps start a family in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately, I have a terrible secret that is making it difficult for me to get close to women: I have $190,000 in student loan debt (no, I am not a doctor). Aside from that scary number, I am financially responsible and have a promising career with a high income trajectory ahead of me. How I arrived at that $190,000 is moot, but what isn’t is the psychological handicap I’ve developed. I am ashamed and embarrassed to be burdened by such student…

The other day my daughter and I were on the couch at my girlfriend’s house and my daughter decided to lie down and put her legs across mine as I sat at the other end of the couch. I noticed that my girlfriend seemed agitated by something and was quiet. When I went to speak to her, she told me that she was disgusted by the fact that my daughter had her legs across me (supposedly close to my crotch) and that my daughter was obviously having sexual feelings. This to me is disturbing that she thought and voiced this with me. My daughter and I have a very close but respectful…

Why am I having such a hard time with men? I’m a 20-year-old female who suffers from pangs of loneliness and I’ve chalked it up to sucking at dating. I’m Russian, which guys find “exotic” and alluring, and I am studying to be a doctor. I’m definitely on the higher end of the attractiveness scale and get a lot of male attention, but I feel it does me no good. Coming from an all-girls high school and spending my Bachelor years studying my butt off, it’s been tough finding the time or circumstance to interact with decent men. Bucketloads of guys want me for sex only. I swat them like flies because…

I spent my first New Year’s Eve with my boyfriend. I explained to him that the only things that mattered to me were that we spent time together and that we kissed AT midnight. Well, we didn’t kiss at midnight, which seems like a stupid thing to get upset about, but I’m upset he didn’t listen to me. I specifically asked about that earlier and he made a joke about it, so I guess he didn’t take it seriously. When I asked him if we could please do that next year, he got really hurt and didn’t even want to look at me or face me. He said he was sad he…

My brother is married to a real control freak who won’t let him come see our dying mom. It’s breaking her already weak heart and causing me to resent him. I have no one to help me with her and it’s very stressful. I’m thinking of not even calling him when she passes because they’ll come to the service and make a big show saying how much they loved her and miss her, etc. and it would sicken me. What should I do? — Already Sickened

I’m married to the oldest of three brothers. “Harrison” is my husband, “Tennyson” is the middle brother, and “Sullivan” the youngest brother. Harrison and Tennyson had an argument four years ago over our wedding. Tennyson was upset that my husband chose Sullivan to be Best Man instead of him. As a result, Tennyson came up with an elaborate story that he would be out of town during our wedding to be the Best Man of a good friend who was renewing his wedding vows in another state. We did not receive a card, gift, or congratulations on our marriage from Tennyson. Harrison and Tennyson had an argument over Tennyson not attending his…

I’ve been dating my Baby Daddy #2 for five years off and on and have two daughters with him, ages 1 and 3. My previous relationship with my Baby Daddy #1 lasted 14 years and I have three children with him, ages 19, 14, and 13. I have a good relationship with BD#1 as if he were a brother or best friend (since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s three years ago at age 37). I have not been intimate with him in six years; we are just co-parents to our children and he has built a strong relationship with my other daughters with my BD#2. Well, when I was nine months pregnant with…

From Ali H., a teacher who participated in this year’s Dear Wendy Holiday Book Drive: Before I forget (with the hectic ness of this week), I wanted to send you some photos of my classroom with our new tools and set-up. While the kiddos won’t get their books until Friday, I wanted to introduce them to our new space so we could get comfortable and create some expectations together. Our first day with it will be tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes. Some comments so far have been, “Wow, lucky 8th graders” and “It feels so welcoming in here” and when discussing various arrangements with a colleague, “It’s clear you want…