Annie's Mailbox
Readers weigh in on value of counseling
Dear Readers • We recently printed a letter from "Problem Still Here," who asked our readers if counseling was worth it. We were inundated with replies from readers sharing their stories, and the vast majority found counseling tremendously helpful. We cannot possibly print all the letters we rece…
Jul 01, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
New daughter-in-law, son shun mom for seeing ex
Dear Annie • In no uncertain terms, my son and his second wife have told me that it is wrong to be in contact with my son's ex-wife. They've said my ex-daughter-in-law should not be invited to my home or to family functions, and that including her shows a total lack of support for my son.
Jun 29, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Woman gets boyfriend near, then wants out
Dear Annie • I'm a young woman who is living at home for the summer before moving away in the fall. Here's my dilemma: Several months ago, I excitedly arranged for my long-distance boyfriend to live with my family and get work nearby. Unfortunately, now that he's here, I find that I simply don't …
Jun 28, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Woman, 22, too messy for her parents
Dear Annie • I'm so frustrated right now. Our 22-year-old daughter, "Olivia," is living at home with my husband, our 17-year-old son and me. A while back, she quit college and moved in with her friends, which turned out to be a financial disaster. Two years ago, Olivia decided to return to school…
Jun 24, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Man, 20, tries to conquer eating disorder
Dear Annie • I am a 20-year-old male who recently developed an eating disorder. I've lost almost 50 pounds from restricting, purging and over-exercising. Even though I get a lot of compliments on my weight loss, I am nowhere near where I'd like to be. My parents notice that I don't eat very much,…
Jun 22, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Sister, husband won't accept boyfriend
Dear Annie • I have been in a relationship with "Derek" for two years. I love him dearly and know we will marry someday. The problem is, my sister and her husband will not accept Derek because we started dating when he was still going through a divorce.
Jun 21, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Divorced dad punishes daughter
Dear Annie • My father is a dentist and earns a good living, but he is going after my money. When I graduated from high school, he took the money relatives and friends sent me and kept it for himself. A year later, he and Mom were going through a divorce, and he subpoenaed my work records to find…
Jun 17, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Grandma must play by rules to see grandson
Dear Annie • Two years ago, my son began dating "Layla," who then became pregnant. I went out of my way to include her in our family.
Jun 15, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Wife's anger shows up all the time
Dear Annie — I've been married for 20 years, but I have a situation at home and don't know what to do anymore.
Jun 14, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Anonymous letter ruins good friendship
Dear Annie • I met "Janice" through my son's school. She's a parent of one of his classmates. She would come to my house in the afternoon before picking up her kids. We would enjoy a cup of coffee and sit around and talk and laugh.
Jun 10, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Woman frets over friend's filthy surroundings
Dear Annie • My best friend, "Jamie," lives five hours away. She and her husband, "Bob," are both disabled. Jamie has several chronic illnesses that leave her in pain and exhausted most of the time. Bob weighs about 500 pounds and is immobile and bedridden. They have two teenaged children who are…
Jun 08, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Man worries brother takes advantage of widowed mom
Dear Annie — My father passed away a year ago. My brother, who lived closest, was entrusted to oversee my mother's care. My siblings and I were all aware of the sacrifices Dad made to ensure my mother would be provided for. Their house is not paid off, but there is enough coming in monthly to cov…
Jun 07, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Woman stays out of rift between sister, father
Dear Annie • I have two daughters, "Kathy" and her younger sister, "Carly," both in their late 20s. Carly and I have always had a rocky relationship, stemming from my being the disciplinarian since my wife refused to do it. Kathy always seemed more understanding and forgiving.
Jun 03, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Group seeks to make school lunches more healthy
Dear Annie • Our nation's schools provide the majority of American children with at least one of their daily meals. Unfortunately, more than 90 percent of the school meals do not measure up to national nutrition standards. This is worrisome because we know how important food is to the development…
Jun 01, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
New husband tries to manipulate woman
Dear Annie • I've been married to "Sherwin" for two years. We are both in our 50s. He has two grown children, and I have two teenagers who still live with us.
May 31, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Moms in playgroup rude to one member
Dear Annie • I am in an awkward social situation. My 3-year-old daughter and I were invited to join a group of moms and children at a local park. At first, it was great, but now the other mothers have decided they don't like me. They don't say it to my face, and they aren't obviously rude, but th…
May 27, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Siblings distrust man recovering from mental illness
Dear Annie • Nearly 23 years ago, at the end of my Ph.D. studies, I became ill with severe depression. Not recognizing the problem, I self-medicated with illegal drugs and became an addict. I was so messed up that I had to move back in with my parents, who provided a roof over my head but nothing…
May 25, 2011 | 12:00 am
| (
Woman angry at inconsiderate son-in-law
Dear Annie • My daughter recently married and had a baby. The problem is my son-in-law. I have tried to like him, but it's hard. He is in the military in another state, and my daughter lives at home in order to finish college. It was his idea to save money by having her live here instead of renti…
May 24, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Student struggles in college, fears parents' reaction
Dear Annie • I am a college student. I graduated from community college with an associate's degree in December and am finishing my first semester at the university. No matter how hard I try (tutoring, studying more and for longer hours), I am not doing well. I don't think college is for me, and I…
May 20, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Neighbor with paranoid tendencies worries woman
Dear Annie • How can I help a friend who is convinced his neighbors are bombarding his house with rays that have affected his health and caused the death of one of his dogs?
May 18, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Woman frets over friend with abusive husband
Dear Annie • I have a dear friend who is in an abusive relationship. The abuse is mostly verbal, but occasionally physical. Apparently, this has been going on for their entire 23-year relationship.
May 17, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
When parents come back, grandchildren misbehave
Dear Annie • My daughter has five beautiful children whom we love very much. My husband and I often take the kids overnight and on weekends to give some quiet time to their parents.
May 13, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Woman tenant who is a hoarder worries condo owner
Dear Annie • I live in a small condominium community of 24 units. Two units down, there is an older woman who is a hoarder. She continually has trash piled up by her front door and back porch. When you look through her glass sliding doors, you can see trash from floor to ceiling. She also has two…
May 11, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
Man's addiction, depression ruin marriage
Dear Annie • I married "Theo" three years ago. The marriage started out OK, but then I discovered he had a drug addiction. After a great deal of pushing from me, Theo finally got clean two years ago. The problem is, he has not held a job since he moved in with me six years ago. I have worked a fu…
May 10, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
White man falls for older black woman
Dear Annie • I am a white male and have fallen in love with an African-American woman who is 12 years older. I have never met such a wonderful, kind, sweet, caring and loving woman. She makes me laugh. She is my soul mate. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
May 06, 2011 | 12:15 am
| (
