Dear Abby

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Bossy sister is aggravating my mental health problems

Person with generalized anxiety disorder considers cutting ties with sibling to stop blowing up at her when she causes stress.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Mom crushed as I wash my hands of jailbird brother

The man’s stealing and drug use is too much for a family reeling from the death of a child.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: I’m the one people choose for airing out their trauma

‘Human landfill’ can’t understand being singled out by acquaintances eager to dump the horrors of their past.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: The farmstead I bought came with a morbid surprise

After the deal is done, seller reveals that his father’s body has been decomposing out back for decades, and the skull is still there.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: As she ‘works on our marriage,’ wife won’t talk to me

She walks out on husband after 28 years, and he’s not sure how to bring her back.

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: When my mom died, cousin couldn’t wait to announce it online

Her hasty Facebook post broke the news while immediate family was still processing the loss.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Dad's neglected me and my kids since having twins with his new wife

The new arrivals are younger than the grandkids he hardly sees.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: I want Dad at my wedding but not Mom, who mistreats me

Bride’s mother wants to discuss why she’s being left out of the big day.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Calls from friend who talks nonstop can be exhausting

Chatterbox doesn’t seem aware that it’s courteous to ask questions, seek others’ opinions.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Friends increasing their visits and wearing me out

Woman is getting anxious about how often she has to host her husband’s hunting buddy and his wife, who don’t contribute at all to mealtimes.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: I think my kid’s friend lives with a sex offender

Parent wonders whether to tell the boy why he can’t visit his playmate’s home.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: I keep my kids away from all the drama in my chaotic family

Parent sometimes misses relatives but prefers to avoid their fighting and gossiping.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: As menopause sets in, I grieve what could have been

Woman is feeling sad and takes out frustrations on her husband as hopes for biological children dim.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: My wife shouldn't be friends with someone rude to me

The wife doesn’t want to let go of person who once spent a four-hour lunch with the couple and never acknowledged the spouse.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: When BFF visits family, I miss watching football with him

NFL fans is hurt that friend’s travel is disrupting a long tradition of Sunday bonding.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Wife would rather listen to vegan podcasts than me

Husband can’t get her attention as she wears earbuds and trades messages with other enthusiasts, all day long.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Wife helped me beat cancer, but now she's drinking too much

After six months of guiding her husband through radiation and chemo, she began abusing alcohol and getting angry a lot, and he doesn’t understand why.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Some bridesmaids won’t like bawdy bachelorette party

Bride is excited about getting wild but knows sexy games and double entendres will make a few conservative friends uncomfortable.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: My freeloading boyfriend will get abusive if I dump him

Woman no longer wants to be with man who pays no rent and asks for gambling money.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: It costs me plenty when guests RSVP then don’t show up

Of the people who promised to attend a birthday party, 20% didn’t make it, and not always for good reason.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: As RSVP period ends, couple springs a surprise on wedding guests

After friends and family accept invitation to ceremony that promises to be lavish, they’re told plans have changed and they’re no longer welcome.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Why is daughter being so secretive about her boyfriend?

Parents have been extremely supportive through her many challenges and don’t understand why she lies and withholds the truth when it comes to her love life.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: When husband dies, should I tell daughter who repudiated him?

The woman, an alcoholic, had falsely accused her father of abusing her during childhood.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Mom liked my ex, and he should have gone to her funeral

Grieving daughter now is seeing someone else and wants her former boyfriend out of her life but still thinks he was selfish not to pay his respects.

By Abigail Van Buren

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Husband swore off the other woman, but then called her

His emotional affair with a co-worker seemed to be over, but now that he’s trying to resume contact with her, his wife is having trouble trusting him.

By Abigail Van Buren