Annie's Mailbox® from Creators Syndicate

Annie's Mailbox, November 1 for 11/01/2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently separated after 20 years of marriage. I love him, but not like a husband. However, we've always been there for each other when it really mattered and have decided divorce is the only way to save our friendship. We're working hard to make sure our teenage boys still feel we are a family and know we both love them.

The kids and I finally moved out of m ...

Updated: Sun Nov 01, 2009

Annie's Mailbox, November 2 for 11/02/2009

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I are in a long-distance relationship because he's at college, 2,000 miles away. We've been together for two years.

At first, everything was fine, but he soon became distant and unavailable to talk. I figured he just needed space. Whenever it bothered me, he would reassure me that nothing was wrong and swear he still loved me.

A week before I was sched ...

Updated: Mon Nov 02, 2009

Annie's Mailbox, November 3 for 11/03/2009

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: Seven years ago, my mother had a stroke. She recovered quite well physically, but has never been the same mentally. My aunts wanted to put her in a nursing home, but my sister and I decided to assume responsibility for her. The plan was that Mom would spend six months with me and six months with my sister.

Somehow, my sister's turn never came, and seven years later, my mother ...

Updated: Tue Nov 03, 2009

Annie's Mailbox, November 4 for 11/04/2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: I'm 13 years old and have a younger brother. My dad is addicted to gambling. To make matters worse, he doesn't work much, either. Not that it matters. Even when he worked hard, he lost all of the money gambling.

My parents recently got a divorce. Dad is practically broke, so he still lives in our tiny apartment with us. He's not the best father in the world. He never comes to ...

Updated: Wed Nov 04, 2009

Annie's Mailbox, November 5 for 11/05/2009

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My husband is an amazing man. He is selfless and has uncompromising integrity. He is well-known and well-respected in our small community. I am proud to be his wife.

I am 19 years my husband's junior, and this, along with his well-deserved reputation, casts a huge shadow over me. I understand some of this can't be helped, but why must people treat me as though I am some kind ...

Updated: Thu Nov 05, 2009

Annie's Mailbox, November 6 for 11/06/2009

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: Last weekend, my daughter, my grandchildren and I attended an exhibition at a well-known museum in Chicago. While waiting to enter, I saw a boy around 8 years old trying to comfort his toddler sister, who was crying. The mother was not present. However, when she returned, she snatched the little girl away and slapped the boy viciously on his ear. He cried out in obvious pain and ran ...

Updated: Fri Nov 06, 2009

Annie's Mailbox, November 7 for 11/07/2009

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My parents divorced 18 years ago, and Dad has had numerous partners and wives since. Three months ago, Dad found out he had stage-four colon cancer. Two weeks after his diagnosis, he married "Sue."

Here's the problem: Before he was sick, Dad didn't get along that well with Sue. They argued a lot, and my sisters and I thought he'd eventually break it off. Still, we w ...

Updated: Sat Nov 07, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/08/2009

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: I have been married to a wonderful man for less than a year. We are both in our early 40s, educated, with good jobs and have no children at home. The problem is, my mother-in-law is driving me crazy. She is a lovely person, but has developed the habit of showing up without calling.

We have been in our new home for three months. During this time, Mom has visited six times. Two ...

Updated: Sun Nov 08, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/09/2009

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: I am currently engaged to an exotic dancer, and we recently found out she is pregnant. Times are tough right now, and this is the problem: I was laid off but receive unemployment while I search for a new job. My fiancee recently told me she wants to dance more and in different venues to gain the much-needed money.

I cannot stand her job. It makes me ill. But she is a loving w ...

Updated: Mon Nov 09, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/10/2009

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My parents had been married 25 years when my father died at age 45. With her world crashing down around her, Mom began drinking. Dad has been gone six years, and my mother has become a full-blown alcoholic.

Mom is a mean and hateful drunk. Worse, she gets behind the wheel of her car and doesn't remember things afterward. I'm scared she is going to hurt herself or someone else ...

Updated: Tue Nov 10, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/11/2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: Shortly after Thanksgiving last year, my husband was hospitalized at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. We live 250 miles from the hospital and spent the week with friends nearby. We visited my husband daily, and did the same a few months later when he needed a second surgery.

While there, I observed that the vast majority of patients had absolutely no visitors. I asked the ...

Updated: Wed Nov 11, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/12/2009

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My husband and I are both retired. A year ago, we moved in order to be within driving distance of our three married children. We mentioned to our minister that we were new to the area, and he suggested social groups that meet at the church.

There are about a dozen women in my group. One of them dominates the conversation to such an extent that I haven't really had an opportun ...

Updated: Thu Nov 12, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/13/2009

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: Five years ago, my wife had an affair with my best friend, left me and married him. She now has total custody of our two kids. She lied to the court and to our friends and said I was an abusive husband. Everyone believed her, and in the small town where we live, it has left me feeling like an outsider.

I can't stand it here anymore. But if I move somewhere else, I will lose w ...

Updated: Fri Nov 13, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/14/2009

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My son, "Terry," is 30 and newly divorced with two sons. My husband and I have been helping him since he had a hard time finding a job. He lived with us for three months. My husband (his stepfather) bought him a car and insurance so he could get to work and be able to pick up his boys.

In April, Terry moved into an apartment. We paid the security deposit and first m ...

Updated: Sat Nov 14, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/15/2009

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My 15-year-old niece recently told me she craves the taste of blood and feels like a freak. She said her mom absolutely lost it when she told her.

I know this must be a symptom of a medical problem and told her so. I also said she needs to talk to a doctor or therapist about it, as they are in a better position to help her. But she's too scared to talk about it with anyone.
Updated: Sun Nov 15, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/16/2009

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: I am so frustrated with my husband. We have four children under the age of 8. He actually encourages them to watch scary movies and play violent video games. He says it's OK because he's with them and can explain anything they don't understand. He says he's watched horror movies since he was a young kid and there's nothing wrong with it.

What he doesn't see is that the childr ...

Updated: Mon Nov 16, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/17/2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: How can a 62-year-old woman be so confused at this stage of life? My domestic partner and I have been together 12 years, and our relationship has recently become shaky.

"Jack" is very outgoing. Men and women are attracted to him for his conversation and wit. One of our neighbors is almost 10 years younger than I am and is showing an interest in him. She often pops i ...

Updated: Tue Nov 17, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/18/2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: I have two children who attend public school in California. We were relatively happy with our children's education until our oldest started fifth grade. We had heard rumors for many years that one particular fifth-grade teacher was absolutely awful, and of course, our son got her. This woman is mean and degrading and belittles the children on a daily basis. What's worse, she seems t ...

Updated: Wed Nov 18, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/19/2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: My wife of 27 years hugs and kisses everyone she meets, no matter how often she sees them. I have spoken to her about this, stating that not everyone is comfortable being hugged and kissed all the time.

My real problem is that we have a male friend who is also our tenant. "Ralph" is a huge flirt. Worse, he tells me all the time how sexy my wife is and how lucky I am ...

Updated: Thu Nov 19, 2009

ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R) for 11/20/2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Annie: I was with "Barry" for two years. After the first eight months of an amazing relationship, things started going downhill. Out of the blue, I felt I couldn't trust him. He didn't do anything in particular. For no reason, I just started checking his phone and becoming clingy and controlling. We fought over stupid things because of me.

Eventually, Barry couldn't take t ...

Updated: Fri Nov 20, 2009