Annie's Mailbox® from Creators Syndicate

Jumping the Relationship Gun for 05/27/2012

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: Last month, an old boyfriend contacted me. I hadn't seen "Bud" in 30 years. We had a wonderful conversation. I visited him at his home. He even sent me a large sum of money to help pay off a mortgage bill. We now talk at least twice a day and always say "I love you." Bud speaks of a future together, but I told him that I want a commitment before I will sell my pl ...

Updated: Sun May 27, 2012

Trusting Cheaters for 05/26/2012

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I'm in my early 20s and have been dating "Aidan" for a year. He attends college two hours away. He doesn't socialize much and stresses a lot about his grades. His only real friend is "Cara," a girl we went to high school with. Cara lives in a house with several other girls.

The first time I met her roommate "Lisa," I felt uncomfortable. I'm not t ...

Updated: Sat May 26, 2012

Bare Naked Mommies for 05/25/2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I am becoming excessively annoyed by a new trend I'm seeing with my friends who have recently become parents — the "naked mommy."

I'm 27 and have not yet had children. Several of my friends are having their second or third, but most are on their first. I work in a physician's office, so I see a lot of medical-related nudity, and it is not a problem for me. Bu ...

Updated: Fri May 25, 2012

The Long Trip to Tenuous for 05/24/2012

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My father and I have never had the best relationship. He was domineering, controlling and verbally abusive to me as a teenager, and as a result, I rebelled and did things specifically to irritate him. Several times, he kicked me out of the house, saying I forced him to behave the way he did. I always apologized because it was easier if I kept the peace.

Three years ago, my p ...

Updated: Thu May 24, 2012

Forty Years Frozen for 05/23/2012

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: After more than 40 years of devotion to my husband, I have finally realized what a stonehearted jerk he is. I have done everything in my power to love, respect and encourage him. But I've fallen into a pattern of picking up the pieces of my heart and overlooking my own hurt in order to give him another chance and keep peace in our home.

All of this is "not important&quo ...

Updated: Wed May 23, 2012

Envying the Enabled for 05/22/2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My brother and sister and I had an amazing childhood. Our parents stressed the importance of hard work and education. The three of us got advanced degrees, and my sister and I entered the workforce after graduation.

Our brother, "Dennis," however, seems content to live with my parents, working a seasonal minimum-wage job. He was unable to find employment when he gr ...

Updated: Tue May 22, 2012

Kelsey Mately for 05/21/2012

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My husband's sister "Kelsey" filed for divorce a few months ago. Her soon-to-be ex-husband kept in touch. He told me that Kelsey had been cheating on him with the guy she is currently seeing. I didn't want to believe him, but in the past few weeks, I've discovered that Kelsey has been lying to her parents, her brother and me about nearly everything.

Her new guy has ...

Updated: Mon May 21, 2012

His Problem Goes Way Beyond Age for 05/20/2012

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: Five months ago, I met "Abby" at my job. We have a lot in common and have become close. We flirt with each other. Here's the problem. Abby is 41, and I am 20. She looks and acts much younger.

Abby is in a terrible relationship with her narcissistic soon-to-be ex-husband "Dave." They have two young children. Dave is jealous and domineering and doesn't want ...

Updated: Sun May 20, 2012

Lay Off the Sneak-Mail for 05/19/2012

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: A few months ago, my husband mentioned that he'd responded to an email from a girl he used to know. I didn't think much about it, but then I saw him composing an email, and every time I walked near him, he shielded it from me. He started spending more time on the computer, and I got curious. Finally, I checked his account and saw that he and this girl had been corresponding every da ...

Updated: Sat May 19, 2012

The Sinister Side of Wardrobe Control for 05/18/2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I am married to "Chris," a wonderful man. He was previously married and has major trust issues because of his ex-wife. I can handle most of this, but one thing has become worse over the past two years.

Chris has this idea that I wear outfits that show too much skin and attract other men. But, Annie, I don't wear clothes like that. In fact, I gave away whatever I use ...

Updated: Fri May 18, 2012

Things Change ... but not Some Things for 05/17/2012

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: For the past five years, I've been with the most wonderful woman. "Jane" and I plan to marry, but we haven't set a date because she has two adult daughters who still live at home, and their future plans are unsettled.

Her younger daughter, "Trudi," is 24 and recovering from a debilitating gambling problem. Trudi lost her job, got caught stealing family he ...

Updated: Thu May 17, 2012

Scissors Beat Paper ... Thin Resolve for 05/16/2012

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been happily married for eight years, and we have two beautiful children. Recently, an ex-boyfriend called to let me know that his father had died. I hadn't heard from him in 12 years.

"Matt" and I began speaking regularly and even spent some time together. My husband knew all of this and was OK with it. One night, however, things went further ...

Updated: Wed May 16, 2012

Ring Around the Codependency for 05/15/2012

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My brother-in-law, "Travis," has been in a relationship with his girlfriend, "Kristin," for eight years. They now have two young children. Kristin has cheated on him too many times to count and continues to do so. They fight about it constantly.

The problem is that Travis is so wrapped up in what Kristin is doing with various other men that both of them h ...

Updated: Tue May 15, 2012

Carpe Diem in Ireland for 05/14/2012

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I am a college senior, graduating in May. I am currently undertaking two internships, and one of them will include a job offer when a position opens up. But I don't know if I should take it.

I have always had a passionate desire to live in Europe. Since childhood, I have never wanted anything so much. Last year, I studied abroad in England, and it only made me more determine ...

Updated: Mon May 14, 2012

Celebrating Mom for 05/13/2012

Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Readers: Happy Mother's Day. Please phone your mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, stepmother or foster mother and wish them the best. And please don't forget those for whom this day, for whatever reason, is filled with sadness. Give them a call and say you are thinking of them.

Dear Annie: I received this from a friend and am wondering whether it is complete or whether something w ...

Updated: Sun May 13, 2012

It's All Fun and Games Until Somebody Gets Hurt for 05/12/2012

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: Four months ago, my wife of 22 years left me. She moved in with her parents, filed for divorce and said she is going to find happiness. She had an affair, and we tried to work through it, but she wanted me to heal according to her timetable, not mine.

I have custody of our children, and she rarely sees them. When she does, it is all fun and games and no responsibility. We bot ...

Updated: Sat May 12, 2012

Gender Identity Issues for 05/11/2012

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: We have two children and a 13-year-old grandson. Two years ago, our 48-year-old unmarried son very reluctantly told us that he has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder and considers himself to be female. This came as a complete surprise, but we decided to support her wholeheartedly, and we find her to be much happier than before.

Here is the problem: Our other son an ...

Updated: Fri May 11, 2012

Momma's Gonna Miss You for 05/10/2012

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 11 years. We have three young children and a great relationship.

We recently decided to move from Boston to Georgia. My husband, children and I believe it is the right choice. The problem is my mother-in-law. Right now, we live within a mile of her. She is devastated that we are moving and is blaming me. She says I am taking her son awa ...

Updated: Thu May 10, 2012

Dead-Beat Sally for 05/09/2012

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My 25-year marriage is falling apart. My husband's 40-year-old daughter, "Sally," has been living with us for eight months. She occasionally buys a few groceries, but otherwise pays nothing. She does no work around the house. I've asked her to help clean the shared bathroom. She says she doesn't think she should have to do any cleaning because she doesn't mess anything up. ...

Updated: Wed May 09, 2012

Wiped Out for 05/08/2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My sister-in-law asked me to wipe her PC's hard drive so she could donate it. In the process, I discovered an old suicide note she had written. It dates back five years, which was a time when I know she felt overwhelmed caring for a disabled friend. In the note, it says she felt terribly burdened by this unwanted responsibility.

My sister-in-law recently moved back home to t ...

Updated: Tue May 08, 2012