Columns

I am a 34-year-old woman who still lives at home with her parents. I have a degree and a master’s from a good university. Because I have a hidden disability that makes it hard for me to find work, and because I still live at home with my parents at age 34, I have a problem dating. I would really love to find that special someone to spend the rest of my life with and have children with, but I doubt anyone would want to date someone my age who is still living at home and working very sporadically (people I know give me work here and there as my disability means…

My boyfriend of seven years and I have decided to move in together as a next step to marriage. I feel ready for this step, but my mother, whom I currently live with and help care for and I have a tense relationship with, is against living together before marriage. I had a hard time telling her, she reacted angrily as I expected, but later apologized and has been acting extra nice to me. However, she’s been making snide comments about it here and there, such as, when I tell her I’m going shopping for my new home, she says I’m playing house and it’s the wrong path. I have a hard…

My husband is 80 years old and very interested in the beautiful and flirtatious 48-year-old lady next door. When we met this lady, I knew immediately he’d be very attracted to her. It’s a habit. (He’s been diagnosed as a narcissist, by the way). We recently moved from Florida back to the Midwest and away from two ladies whom he spent as much time with as possible. Although he was friends with their husbands, he clearly was embarrassingly attentive to these ladies, even visiting one or the other while the husbands were out of the state on fishing trips, etc. All three guys are friends. “Our Beautiful Neighbor Lady is Getting Too…

I’ve been a long-time lurker, and I appreciate so much what you have been saying and posting with respect to the impending Trump presidency. Thank you for posting your “weekly steps of activism” and for not “staying in your lane” (whatever that was supposed to mean). It has inspired me to be hopeful and do more to be active in our political discourse, and it is largely because of this, and the very thoughtful advice you give others, that I am writing to you for advice now. My husband has a brother who is two years younger than he whom he’s always been close to. His brother has been with his wife…

I have been in a relationship for about three and a half years. When I met my boyfriend, he was living with his brother, roommate-style, and his brother had a girlfriend of about two years. Things were going great until I started to notice little things between my boyfriend and his brother’s girlfriend such as: She’d come in his room and lie on his bed even with me there; they would touch each other and poke each other. And one day as I was leaving for work and it was just the three of us in the house, they both seemed anxious and they walked me to the door as if they…

I’m 25, in college and working, and I cannot WAIT until 2016 is over! I’ve had such a difficult year with love, starting with a two-year LDR ending in March. My ex cheated on me (though he accused me of cheating, which I never did) and had his new girlfriend call my phone to tell me everything. They were dating for the last four months of our relationship, even though he swore everything was “good” between us. She and I were very civil to one another, but I did cuss him out once I asked her to pass the phone to him. I was heartbroken for about four months. Then, in May,…

Today is Giving Tuesday, and also day two of our fifth annual DW holiday book drive. We’re nearly 90% to our goal of 215 books, but still have a few more left to be purchased. Please consider contributing to this drive and giving a memorable gift to some high-needs kids who might not otherwise feel so acknowledged and remembered this holiday season. Thank you!! And here’s today’s column: I’m 53 and my boyfriend is 58. We’re “engaged,” and I use quotations because it’s not publicly announced or acknowledged, all to protect his 17-year-old daughter. She probably knows, but “Carl” makes sure that, since the divorce nearly three years ago, their time together…

UPDATE: ALL THE BOOKS ARE PURCHASED! In a little over 24 hours, the initial 215 books (plus a few extra) for the six registries were purchased and sent, so I added an additional registry from a teacher who sent me her list yesterday, and her registry was fulfilled within a few hours. That makes 250 books you all bought for kids in high-needs schools from around the country. Thank you so much for your generosity! The teachers will start receiving the books by the end of the week and they’ll pass them along to their students before they break for winter holidays in a couple weeks. Thanks for another successful DW holiday…

My husband and I are mending our marriage. His niece is getting married to a man she hardly knows and I’m not invited since the mother of the bride does not like me for no reason except she doesn’t want her brother with me. He and I have been married for fourteen years and I think it is wrong that my spouse goes to the ceremony. He says he isn’t going to the reception, but I don’t believe him. — Not Invited