The best of Dear Abby: How to make it through the holidays

By Caroline Hurley | December 20, 2019 at 4:44 PM

Dear Abby’s best advice for navigating the holiday season with friends and family.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

16 Total Updates Since
December 07, 2015 06:00 AM

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December 24, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: Oops! That New Year’s Eve invite wasn’t meant for you

By Abigail Van Buren

Reader was thrilled to have been remembered by a beloved cousin — until the truth emerged.
December 06, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: Visit by my uninvited mom could ruin Christmas

By Abigail Van Buren

After an awful, unsolicited stay during her daughter’s childbirth, the meddlesome mother now has booked a flight to crash the baby’s first holiday.
December 03, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: Adult siblings clash, so family holidays canceled

By Abigail Van Buren

Parents call off the traditional dinners until the two offspring, 27 and 29, can set aside their differences and reduce the stress.
November 26, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: I can’t afford gifts for kids, grandkids and spouses

By Abigail Van Buren

Traditionally everyone got a Christmas present, but with all these family members — plus a new great-grandchild — it’s too much.
November 14, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: Teens have never sent a thank you for grandma’s gifts

By Abigail Van Buren

It seems their parents never taught them how to express gratitude, but grandmother keeps trying.
November 13, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: One family’s solution for where to spend Christmas

By Abigail Van Buren

Opening presents at Thanksgiving lets couple’s grown kids spend Christmas with the in-laws and lets grandchildren celebrate twice.
October 28, 2018 05:00 AM

Dear Abby: Mom orders adult sons to spend certain holidays at her house

By Abigail Van Buren

If the men’s families prefer to stay home or visit a different relative, forget it.
December 18, 2017 09:25 AM

Dear Abby: I don’t want mom to spend Christmas alone

By Abigail Van Buren

As various scenarios fall through, daughter considers ditching her husband and children to be with her mother.
December 14, 2017 12:00 AM

Dear Abby: Enjoying a birthday at Christmastime

By Abigail Van Buren

Families share their various ways of celebrating loved ones born on or near the holiday.
August 04, 2017 12:00 AM

Dear Abby: Was it wrong to have my baby on Christmas?

By Abigail Van Buren

On Christmas Eve a woman went into labor and now she wonders if her daughter would have been better off being born on a different day.