Mars and Venus from Creators Syndicate

Boyfriend Moves in With Ex for 02/16/2012

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I am a college student who has been dating my boyfriend for three years, all of which have been long distance. I am graduating in the next few months and have accepted a job near him. We have plans to get married in the near future.

Unfortunately, in the past year, my boyfriend, "Mike," transferred to a new city and in doing so, he moved in with an old girlfriend. Si ...

Updated: Thu Feb 16, 2012

Professional Affair Upsets Career for 02/12/2012

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I've been having an affair with "Jack," a married co-worker, for three years. We both knew it was wrong, but a relationship started, then cooled off out of guilt.

Jack has been nervous around me lately. Currently, we've both agreed to be "just friends," but lately, he's insisted I am still pursuing him. I told him that I wasn't at all and although I loved h ...

Updated: Sun Feb 12, 2012

Woman Worries She Was an 'Easy Target' for 02/09/2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I've just ended an abusive marriage. After leaving my husband, I have started seeing a man who is about five years younger than me, and once again, I have gotten burned pretty badly.

I think he saw me as an easy target because of my recent divorce. Since we quickly got intimate, I know I skipped some very important steps in the dating process. What signs can I look for that a ...

Updated: Thu Feb 09, 2012

Newlyweds Face Divorce for 02/05/2012

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: Is the first year of marriage the easiest or the hardest? I am a 21-year-old man, and my wife is 19 years old. We're trying hard to make a marriage work, but I don't know if we'll survive beyond the first 12 months. What tips can you give us? —Long-Term Troubles, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dear Long-Term Troubles: Since you are so young, I'm going to assume that your dating r ...

Updated: Sun Feb 05, 2012

BFF May Lose More Than Morals in Vegas for 02/02/2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I'm a bridesmaid in a wedding for a BFF. Before the big day, we'll all be going to Las Vegas. I have mixed feelings about this, because I know that the bride sees this as an opportunity for a "last fling." Her excuse is that she won't know if he'll be doing the same at his bachelor party. As much as I like her, the groom is also a close friend of mine, and I'd feel awful if ...

Updated: Thu Feb 02, 2012

My Boyfriend Is a Honking Goose for 01/29/2012

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I'm in my late 20s. Currently, I'm dating a really sweet guy. My problem: When he blows his nose — which is often — he sounds like a honking goose. It's gotten to the point where I find it annoying. Your opinion counts, because maybe I just being —Too Sensitive, in Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Too Sensitive: Obviously, he has allergies — poor guy. (I do, too.) Yo ...

Updated: Sun Jan 29, 2012

Secret Smokes Create Rift in Relationship for 01/26/2012

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: My husband and I have been married for 13 years. Eighteen months ago, my husband secretly went back to smoking, despite repeatedly lying to me on the subject — even when I've caught him sneaking a smoke.

Our lives are very stressful. We have three children, and he works two jobs. Money is tight, and I find myself depressed. I feel that he has lied to me about his smokin ...

Updated: Thu Jan 26, 2012

Lack of Sex Leads Marriage to a Dead End for 01/22/2012

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: My wife, "Alice," and I are approaching our 20th anniversary. Unfortunately, we are at a dead end in our relationship.

We are both in our mid-40s with high-pressure professional careers: Alice is a director of human resources, and I am a professor of economics at a local college. We support one another's careers and share in housework and family responsibilities, bu ...

Updated: Sun Jan 22, 2012

Are Only Women Responsible for Household Chores? for 01/19/2012

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: In the past, you've recommended that when a man notices things around the house that need to be done, he should ask his wife if he should do them. If you see something that needs to be done and you are quite capable of doing it, why does one need to ask permission?

I doubt that any woman would reply would be, "No, dear, I'll carry that up the stairs even though you are w ...

Updated: Thu Jan 19, 2012

My Husband Dumped Me for His Secretary for 01/15/2012

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: Four months ago, my husband of seven years dumped me after I'd supported him through law school! We met in college, fell in love and decided that his career would be the one we'd both work toward, which meant I would sacrifice my own education until he completed law school.

Through many of those difficult years, I held down two jobs: waiting tables or working as a retail sale ...

Updated: Sun Jan 15, 2012

Love Is in the Numbers for 01/12/2012

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I am a 50-year-old bachelor who is an Ivy-League MBA, physically fit and making a very good living. I still have all my hair, and I've been told I "look 10 years younger than I am." I have remained single all my life mainly out of fear of being financially bushwhacked by a female, as many of my friends have been by their wives, after nasty divorces.

I think several ...

Updated: Thu Jan 12, 2012

Never Had a Serious Relationship for 01/08/2012

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I've reached the point where dating is more a game of chance than anything else. I'm a 28-year-old male who has never been married. I've never even had a serious relationship. Admittedly, I'm feeling a little panicked about hitting 30 and never having had anything close to a serious relationship.

I'm really confused by dating, and I would like to be married eventually, but I'm ...

Updated: Sun Jan 08, 2012

Only Cheaters Find Her Attractive for 01/05/2012

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I'm a 34-year-old woman who is reasonably attractive and very intelligent. Sure, I'm far from perfect, but I do have a lot of good things going for me. I'm not desperate for a man, but I would like to be with someone special.

In the past 10 years, the only men who have been attracted to me are those who cheat on either their wives or girlfriends. I can't figure out why this ke ...

Updated: Thu Jan 05, 2012

Wife's Weight Crushes Husband's Sex Drive for 01/01/2012

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: My wife's weight has gone way up. Not to my surprise, I no longer feel aroused by her. This is a rather recent problem. After 10 years of marriage, it has left me wondering how I can explain this to her.

Our diminished sex life is a disappointment to us both. I'd like to be able to tell her why I feel this way, but she doesn't take criticism very well. I want to make things b ...

Updated: Sun Jan 01, 2012

Woman Seeks Male Companion as Lover for 12/29/2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I'm a 52-year-old woman. I realize now that I want a good friend and a companion as much as I want a lover. In a recent relationship with my friend "Ted," I began to think romantically about him. But when I asked him if he wanted a romantic relationship, Ted said, "If I were to be physically attracted to you, those feelings would have shown up by now." The friends ...

Updated: Thu Dec 29, 2011

Internet Relationship Breaks up Engagement for 12/25/2011

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: Back in October, my fiance, "David," asked me to marry him. I am 22 years old, and David is 35. In the three years that we have been a couple, we have weathered many storms. Originally, we were best friends, and later we began dating. Just two months ago, he met a woman online that he's been talking with ever since. He neglected to tell her that he was engaged. Then last we ...

Updated: Sun Dec 25, 2011

Baby Mama Doesn't Receive Affection From Lover for 12/21/2011

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I have been with this man, "Ted," for three years. He has never told me that he loves me. He doesn't do any of the things he used to do for me, and he hasn't shown any romantic inclination in as long as I can remember.

We now have a 1-year-old baby girl. He's very attached to her, and I feel very jealous of the love and attention he shows her. I am in love with him ...

Updated: Wed Dec 21, 2011

Man Lies About Health to Get Out of Relationship for 12/18/2011

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: I'm a divorced mother with two children, ages 10 and 14. I was in a relationship with "Mark" for the past seven years. Although it did not lead to marriage, I was happy. Mark, however, never wanted to introduce me to his family. He claimed that they would not accept me because of my children. (He is an only child and has never been married.) This was at the root of all of o ...

Updated: Sun Dec 18, 2011

Zero Confidence Kills Woman's Dating Life for 12/14/2011

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: Last year I ended a long-term relationship. Since then, I've had trouble finding someone to share my life. I believe I'm having a confidence crisis.

I look in the mirror and don't like what I see. I feel as if I am becoming an unhappy person. I'm afraid that the men who do interest me can sense this. What can I do to reverse these feelings and get on with my life?—Seeki ...

Updated: Wed Dec 14, 2011

My Husband's Affair Ruined Our Sex Life for 12/11/2011

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Dear John: My husband of 18 years, "Max," told me that he had a six-month affair with a younger co-worker who is no longer employed at his firm. This was a first for him, and it has devastated our marriage, although we are determined to move ahead together.

We have made great strides in the past three months, and both of us agree that breakdowns in both communication and sex we ...

Updated: Sun Dec 11, 2011