Classic Ann Landers from Creators Syndicate

Classic Ann Landers, July 12 for 07/12/2009

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I am a single woman with grown children who live away from home. A few years ago, I moved into a small house close to where I work. The neighbor across the street, a single parent, has chosen to "adopt" me as her friend. It has become a nightmare.

Every night, when my car pulls into the driveway, the phone starts to ring. It's my neighbor, saying, "I know ...

Updated: Sun Jul 12, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, July 19 for 07/19/2009

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I am a 26-year-old woman, engaged to marry a fabulous man. "Edward's" family loves me; my family loves him; and we plan to get married next year.

Here is the problem. A few years ago, I became pregnant by another man. At the time, my family and I decided the best option was to put the baby up for adoption. My fiance knows all about my past and has been very su ...

Updated: Sun Jul 19, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, July 26 for 07/26/2009

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I have been married to "Oliver" for more than 30 years. Two years ago, we separated so I could return to school and complete my degree. I live with my elderly mother 2,000 miles away. For the past 18 months, Oliver has been living with and supporting another woman. He says that they are just good friends and that he does not want a divorce.

This woman is rathe ...

Updated: Sun Jul 26, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, August 2 for 08/02/2009

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I am 52 years old and am married to a wonderful 29-year-old woman. We have two beautiful children. My wife, "Liz," is from South America and is in this country legally. The problem is her family.

When our second child was born, Liz's mother, "Isabel," came to visit and help with the baby. The first thing my mother-in-law did was pressure me to help h ...

Updated: Sun Aug 02, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, August 9 for 08/09/2009

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: You often have told your readers that they do their children no favor by giving them everything they want on silver platters. I am living proof. I'm an attractive 29-year-old single woman. My parents paid for my college education, bought me every car I owned and made the down payment on my house.

On occasion, I've tried to give Mom and Dad money, but they refuse to take ...

Updated: Sun Aug 09, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, August 16 for 08/16/2009

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: Please help me get my mother to clean her house. It is an absolute mess. There is nowhere to sit because the couch is piled high with empty plastic bags, paper bags, old newspapers and magazines, fast-food containers and toys. Her kitchen table is covered with junk, and so is the countertop. In order to get to the bathroom, you have to walk through a narrow path because everyt ...

Updated: Sun Aug 16, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, August 23 for 08/23/2009

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: Are there any signs one can use to determine whether a child is being abused emotionally? My friend "Gladys" is a single working mother. Her youngest child, a 3-year-old girl, is capable of huge temper tantrums. "Bonnie" breaks toys and screams at the top of her lungs. Gladys has picked the child up and carried her out of supermarkets and shopping malls aft ...

Updated: Sun Aug 23, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, August 30 for 08/30/2009

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I am facing a vexing issue, and I hope you can help me figure out what to do.

I have three sons, all in their 30s. Five years ago, I gave each son a sizeable and equal sum to invest in his future. They did not ask me for this money. I offered it, hoping they would put it to good use. Later, I lent more than $100,000 to my only unmarried son, "Dennis," because ...

Updated: Sun Aug 30, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, September 6 for 09/06/2009

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I hope you will settle this family dispute. It's getting out of hand. I am one of four daughters. Our mother is 87, confined to a wheelchair and living in a nursing home. One sister, "Judy," lives in the same city as our mother, and the rest of us live more than 500 miles away.

Judy is married and has a teenage son and a full-time job. She sees Mom nearly ever ...

Updated: Sun Sep 06, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, September 13 for 09/13/2009

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: On a radio call-in show, a listener asked whether she should continue to acknowledge the birthday of a friend's deceased child. The radio host said: "No. Your friend needs to get on with her life. Mentioning the child's birthday would prolong the suffering."

We are parents who have experienced the misfortune of losing a child. Before the tragedy occurred, we m ...

Updated: Sun Sep 13, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, September 20 for 09/20/2009

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: Two years ago, I became engaged to "Andrew." His generous father gave us $1,000 as an engagement gift, and we invested the money in a certificate of deposit at my bank. A few months later, Andrew and I broke up. We returned all the engagement gifts.

The CD matured six months later. I gave the CD money to Andrew and instructed him to give the money to his fathe ...

Updated: Sun Sep 20, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, September 27 for 09/27/2009

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I have been a reader of your column for many years and know you've written extensively about the link between lung cancer and smoking. Why is it that I never have seen a letter about peripheral arterial disease caused by cigarettes? Please print this one. It could save lives.

My late mother-in-law was a very heavy smoker. She appeared to be in fairly good health until s ...

Updated: Sun Sep 27, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, October 4 for 10/04/2009

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: My 7-year-old son, "Danny," is being harassed at school. He has come home three times in the past two months with injuries. Last week, we had to take him to the emergency room.

I have talked to his teacher, but the situation has not improved. All she will do is keep Danny away from the other children and make him play in another area. I feel he is being punish ...

Updated: Sun Oct 04, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, October 11 for 10/11/2009

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: When my husband, "Darryl," inherited a substantial amount of money several years ago, I figured that we could, at last, get rid of the hand-me-down furniture and mismatched kitchen dishes and have some really nice things in the house. I must have been dreaming.

Darryl immediately opened a bank account in his name only and kept the inherited money separate. He ...

Updated: Sun Oct 11, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, October 18 for 10/18/2009

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I recently attended a wedding. Both the bride and groom had been married before and have children by their previous marriages, who were to participate in the wedding — a very nice touch. This was a formal affair, to be followed by a catered reception. The bride wore a gorgeous gown with a veil and long train. There were mounds of fresh flowers on the altar, and the elega ...

Updated: Sun Oct 18, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, October 25 for 10/25/2009

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Ann Landers: I have written this letter to you in my head at least a thousand times, and now I have decided to put it on paper and mail it. I want you to know that you saved my life. My father had been sexually abusing me for a long time. It started when I was in grade school. I knew what he was doing was wrong, but I was afraid to tell anyone. Then one day, I read a letter in your column ...

Updated: Sun Oct 25, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, November 1 for 11/01/2009

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

Dear Ann Landers: I am 60 and have just been diagnosed with cancer. My problem is my daughter, "Ingrid." She lives in another state and has my only four grandchildren. I went through a nasty divorce a few years back and spent 10 long years alone. Three years ago, a former sweetheart came back into my life. I left the city where Ingrid lived and married the wonderful man. We are very h ...

Updated: Sun Nov 01, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, November 8 for 11/08/2009

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

Dear Ann Landers: Three months ago, our 18-year-old daughter "Ramona" had her tongue pierced. My wife and I had warned Ramona that if she pierced her tongue, she would lose her rights to the family car. She apparently didn't care, because she did it without our knowledge. In fact, her tongue was pierced for almost two weeks before we noticed.

I grounded her and took away the ca ...

Updated: Sun Nov 08, 2009

Classic Ann Landers, November 15 for 11/15/2009

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

Dear Ann Landers: Every time I see a letter in your column from someone questioning the remarriage of a widow or widower, I want to write. This time, an actual letter goes in the mail. My wonderful husband passed away 10 years ago. He lost his battle with brain cancer at the age of 47. I was a widow at 42. This is not the way I planned my life. I have a full-time job and a part-time position, w ...

Updated: Sun Nov 15, 2009

Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999. for 11/22/2009

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Ann Landers: My husband and I have a home on the lake where we go on weekends and vacations with our two children, their spouses and our four young grandchildren.

The problem is a 12-year-old girl who lives across the street. This child is mentally disabled and comes over all the time. She knocks on our door and looks in our windows. Every time we turn around, she is right under us. ...

Updated: Sun Nov 22, 2009