2010-10-03 16:24:00
Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar
DEAR ANNIE: I am 19 years old and a sophomore in college. I have a large circle of friends who are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Or so I thought.
I have never been one to drink or party, not because I looked down on it, but simply because it wasn't my scene.......
2009-07-01 00:01:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: I am 49, the eldest of four siblings and have been suffering with multiple sclerosis for years. My family has little understanding of what living with MS is all about, even though they have seen me at my worst. I don't want their pity, but it would be nice to have some appreciatio......
2008-12-16 08:44:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a sophomore in college and live far away from my hometown, so I rarely see my friends or family. I wouldn't mind so much, except that I'm in a long-distance relationship with "Rob," whom I have known since I was very young. I know such relationships can be difficult, but......
2008-12-04 10:34:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a 40ish divorced woman. Several months ago, I met "Daniel" and fell head over heels. One night, I caught him with someone else. I knew she was at his house, so I went over and introduced myself. I had slept with him for the first time the night before and felt she had the ri......
2008-12-01 10:36:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been in a Bunco group for several years now. We all get along great, and I really look forward to our monthly adult time together. The problem is that every time it's Nancy's" turn to host, she lets her 8-year-old daughter join us. The girl is there the entire......
2008-11-26 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Good friends of ours visit frequently, often staying in our home three or four days. We welcome their visits, but recently the wife has begun wearing low-cut blouses revealing lots of cleavage. I am very uncomfortable with this, especially because she likes to lean over, revealin......
2008-11-25 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter, "Mattie," is 23 and has a 1-year-old daughter. She moved in with us when she found out she was pregnant and is still here. She has since lost her job and does nothing. She gets unemployment and some child support from the loser father, and apparently that is enough f......
2008-11-20 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a freshman in college and have been with my boyfriend, a senior in high school, for two years. Before I graduated, we were inseparable. Now that I'm two hours away, it's taking a huge toll on me. I started out liking my college, but now that it's kicked in that he's not......
2008-11-19 09:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My sister and her husband have some habits that really turn me off when I visit. They leave dirty pots and pans on the stove for weeks. They allow used dishes, cups and utensils to pile up in the sink until it is overflowing. They have a dishwasher but say it doesn't clean the po......
2008-11-18 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've just begun a new graduate program, with a very small class. My classmates like to meet for drinks after or go out during the week. They always ask me to come along, and I always say no. I really like all of them and enjoy their company, but I separate school from my personal......
2008-11-17 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm 14 and have a good friend I'll call "Emily." Emily recently told me she is having trouble with her boyfriend, and she is scratching herself. Her boyfriend is controlling. He'll call her when she's at the mall and ask, "Where are you?" ......
2008-11-14 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My boyfriend's ex-wife called and said their 19-month-old son had bitten another child at daycare. This isn't so unusual, but what bothers me is that the day-care provider put dish soap on his tongue. Wouldn't this be considered some form of child abuse? My boyfriend is consideri......
2008-11-13 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 60 years old and have been divorced for a year. A month ago, I started a relationship with "Ted," a 72-year-old divorced man who is also seeing two other women. He says there are many lonely women in this world, and if I don't mind, he'd like to keep our relationship open. W......
2008-11-12 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 34-year-old nephew brought his computer to a shop to be fixed. On the hard drive, the repairman found three videos and 15 pictures of child pornography. My nephew was arrested and is facing jail time. He has asked numerous people to send letters to the judge, attesting to his ......
2008-11-11 08:50:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband, "Mike," and I have been married two years. Shortly after we married, his retired parents moved about five hours away. They visit once a month (for doctors appointments, etc.) and stay at least five days. They always stay with us. My in-laws arrive unannounced, ma......
2008-11-10 10:21:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter, "Alicia," is married and pregnant. The problem is, her husband is very abusive and I fear for her life. She is young and he is her first love, and she will not leave him even though she could be in danger. Alicia will not have anything to do with the family because w......
2008-11-07 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Three years ago, my husband of 20 years fell in love with another woman. Nothing physical happened between them, but it was definitely an emotional affair. Eventually, she found another job, and my husband and I went into counseling. In the middle of deciding whether to divo......
2008-11-06 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: A year ago, I was invited to invest in the company where I worked and become a part-owner. My husband and I took out a second mortgage and refinanced everything to buy in. It was great at first, but now everything is going downhill. I have also questioned "Jane," the other i......
2008-11-05 09:28:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a widower and recently got engaged to "Dyann." We are planning on getting married soon, but a few things have me puzzled. My wife-to-be told me she had been married and divorced. She had a child living with her, who I thought was her only child. I'd been seeing her for ......
2008-11-04 08:16:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My son and daughter-in-law are no longer on speaking terms with my husband and me. A year ago, they wanted us to sign something for them and said if we didn't sign, they would no longer let us see our grandchildren. My husband refused, and they took the children away. These child......
2008-11-03 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Due to financial setbacks, my sister and her two children have been living with my husband and me for over a year. The problem is that her 6-year-old son is a mama's boy. "Alan" refuses to listen to anyone. He throws tantrums when his mother is not around and even kicks his siste......
2008-10-31 11:32:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I feel like the worst parent in the world right now, and I can't talk to anyone about this. My 14-year-old son had his friend "Jake" over yesterday. When I opened the door to his bedroom, it was apparent that Jake was under the blanket, performing a sex act on him. I was so ......
2008-10-30 11:16:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: For 10 years, I've bitten my lip while my mother-in-law says things that are emotionally abusive and critical. She tells me she'll never accept me, I need to lose weight, I'll be a horrible mother when I have kids, etc. Dealing with her is a constant challenge, becaus......
2008-10-29 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married for 10 years and have one son. He's now at an age when he is starting to notice how much my husband's sister hates me. I have no idea why. What do I say when he asks, "Why does Aunt Jane look at you with a mean face? Why does she laugh at you?" So far, I ......
2008-10-28 10:28:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Thirty years ago, I married an abusive man and had two children. Four years later, pregnant and miserable, I ran away and left the children with their paternal aunt to raise. Then I met "Joe." I lied on the marriage license (with Joe's approval), saying I was divorced, so that we......
2008-10-24 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Yesterday, my doctor said I could no longer be her patient, because I was on Medicare and the reimbursements were too low. She told me not to bother trying to find another doctor, because they were all doing the same thing. I am now at a stage in life where having a doctor i......
2008-10-23 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My eldest son, "Ben," is 44 years old and still a huge concern for my husband and me. Ben recently broke up with his fourth wife after only one year of marriage. His relationship with his three former wives lasted about the same duration. The truth is my son has deep-rooted ......
2008-10-22 09:14:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My friend "Beth" divorced her husband three years ago. The divorce was amicable. They had no children together, although Beth has a child from a previous marriage. Shortly after the divorce, I learned from a very reliable source that her ex had been having an affair wit......
2008-10-20 11:11:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter, "Sue," has a pit bull. She's had this dog since it was a puppy. When Sue came to stay with us for a while, she brought the dog. Long story short, the dog bit my 6-year-old son and he had to have a couple of stitches. Sue was told Fido had to go, so she moved out in o......
2008-10-17 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a 17-year-old boy. My girlfriend and I have been dating for a month and are extremely happy, but we have one problem. Her friends and my brother are all trying to pressure us to have sex, even though we made the decision to wait. My girlfriend is getting extremely stress......
2008-10-16 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been married 10 years and have two beautiful children and one meddling mother-in-law. "Jan" sometimes displays bizarre behavior that makes me worry about my children's safety. When our son was 5 weeks old, Jan begged us to let her have the baby overnight. Before leaving......
2008-10-15 09:32:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Five years ago, I had a mortgage of $15,000 left on my home. My daughter, "Jacey," wanted to buy a house, but her husband's credit was bad and she couldn't get a bank loan, so she asked me to take out a second mortgage and give her the money. Jacey was to pay $400 a month, a......
2008-10-14 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have two wonderful daughters, ages 5 and 6. We have always wanted to adopt a child and have decided it's time. We are well into the process of adopting through our local foster-care system, and our girls are thrilled to be getting a brother. We are open to a......
2008-10-13 10:25:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My son, "Quentin," has always had a problem telling the truth. It started in kindergarten and became worse over time. He's a grown man now and will lie about anything, from what he was doing an hour ago to whether he lost his job. Quentin has two children from his first marr......
2008-10-10 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I go to college far from home, so the little time I spend with my family is very precious to me. However, each time I come back, there seems to be a larger and larger space between my parents, who have been married nearly 30 years. When I'm with Mom, she says excessively critical......
2008-10-09 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a 13-year-old girl living a wonderful life. Last year, I started attending a new school and, between the huge amounts of homework and the rudeness of my classmates, it was a terrible experience. But it got better over time, especially this past summer when I had a chance to ......
2008-10-08 09:06:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have two children with my husband, and he has a son from his first marriage. My mother-in-law treats my stepson, "Luke," so much better than the other kids. She has Luke's pictures all over her house, but none of our children. She buys Luke expensive toys all the time, but our ......
2008-10-07 08:36:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been dating "Josh," a wonderful man, for just over a month. We were instant friends and started off our romance extremely slowly. We have a lot in common. He lives two hours away and sees me on weekends. This past weekend, Josh told me he is falling in love and wants me......
2008-10-06 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife, "Nellie," and I are both professionals in our late 20s, with no children. Twice a month, Nellie has a girls night out with three of her friends. Occasionally, they will go to a club or a movie, but most of the time they just play cards. I recently learned ......
2008-10-03 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: For at least five years, my mother-in-law has been receiving nasty harassing telephone calls from my sister-in-law, "Cruella." These calls usually pertain to Cruella's distorted belief that Mom doesn't accept her as a worthy daughter-in-law. Cruella misconstrues innocuous co......
2008-10-02 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I have been together for three years. He is wonderful, except he still pays the cell-phone bill for his former girlfriend, "Valerie." Val's mother and father are also on the plan and can easily afford their own phone bills. At first, I was like, OK, I will n......
2008-10-01 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I live overseas. A few months ago, my niece, "Linda," came to visit for the second time. She is 17 years old. I discovered the hard way that Linda is being raised by overprotective parents who give her everything she wants. She has become a cunning, devious, thoughtless, irr......
2008-09-30 08:03:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My late husband and I started a business together. When he died, I asked my two sons, "John" and "Philip," to take over. Philip became money hungry and sued his brother and me. He is no longer part of the business, and in retaliation, I am not allowed to see my two grandchildren.......
2008-09-29 10:06:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for three years, and we both teach at the same high school. Last semester, a new female teacher took quite a liking to my husband, who is 20 years her senior. They began meeting a few times a week for several months. Their affair was obvious, bu......
2008-09-26 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: We have great friends who will be staying with us next month. The problem is, they want to bring their little dog, "Darling." The dog is old, cantankerous, longhaired and given a bath only three times a year. She is incontinent and needs to be watched. In past visits, these ......
2008-09-25 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a 22-year-old part-time college student with a full-time job. I recently got engaged, which I'm excited about. I moved in with my boyfriend a year after we started dating, and everything is going very smoothly. The problem is, my parents are strong Catholics and were ex......
2008-09-24 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Our 80-year-old mother has become addicted to gambling. My father would be rolling in his grave if he knew she'd gone through all his hard-earned retirement savings. Mom has a great monthly pension plan, but the money is being used up, and she cannot account for where it is ......
2008-09-23 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: For the past 20 years, we have vacationed with another family. Now that all our kids are in college, we decided to take a couples-only trip this winter. We all agreed to go to a beach resort. Our friends read about nude resorts on The New York Times web page and decided that......
2008-09-22 10:36:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married for 16 years and have three young children. My husband works 12-hour rotating shifts and is gone from the house at least 15 hours a day. My problem is, on his days off, my husband volunteers to referee local football and basketball games. This starts in O......
2008-09-19 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a 28-year-old single female. I just got a promotion and moved closer to my job. I am doing great and even got a raise. I am pretty happy with my life, but I still have this empty feeling. I have been with my employer for eight years but sometimes wonder how the Air National ......
2008-09-18 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: For 18 years, I had a great relationship with my mother-in-law, but last year she did something totally out of bounds. During my daughter's last year of high school, she talked about getting dreadlocks. I didn't want her to graduate looking like a freak and spoil her chances......
2008-09-17 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a 15-year-old girl, and my friend "Kendall" has stolen a ring from me. I've known Kendall for a couple of years, and recently we've become best friends. I invited her over to my house and showed her the ring, and she really liked it. The moment she left, I noticed the ring wa......
2008-09-16 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 28-year-old divorced daughter will be getting married soon. Occasionally, my husband and I baby-sit our 6-year-old granddaughter. During our weekly visits, our granddaughter sometimes tells us things that are a little disturbing. The most recent thing she said was, "Last night......
2008-09-15 10:33:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I have been happily married for more than 25 years. We both work, but I run my own business out of our home. Several times a week, I like to cross-dress. I'm talking clothes, wig, makeup, the works. I find the feel of women's clothing enjoyable and stimulating. I am v......
2008-09-12 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Three years ago, my sister invited us to her home, where she also had other guests who were rude to us, and whose teenage son hit my 6-year-old boy numerous times. When I confronted the teen's father, the man repeatedly poked me in the face, while my sister and the rest of her fa......
2008-09-11 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been dating "Shawn" for a little over a year. We are very much in love and talking about marriage. Shawn has an excellent career. I have been unemployed for the last couple of months, and he has not let me forget it. Every time I come to his house, he greets me by saying s......
2008-09-10 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 51, have been married for 17 years and have three kids. A year ago, my wife and I ran into "Sue," an old friend of mine. I had not spoken to her for at least 15 years. We talked briefly, and it was somewhat awkward. She was unmarried, with a pre-teen son. My wife was a bit p......
2008-09-09 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married to "Dan" for a year. My mother-in-law, "Mabel," has never accepted me and let me know it at our wedding. She showed up in a black dress, complete with mourning veil. Dan told me that was just her way and asked that I let it pass, which I did until she sent us ......
2008-09-08 10:42:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I recently had our first child. We take turns taking care of the baby, so we can each get some rest. When "Jimmy" was 3 weeks old, he had colic and cried nonstop for several days. My husband got mad, said he couldn't deal with this and threw the baby on the be......
2008-09-05 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Please help me understand my 15-year-old child. We've always had a great mother-son relationship, and my husband and I did everything possible to give him a good education, spend time with him, read to him, play with him and love him to no end. Now he hardly speaks to us. He......
2008-09-04 10:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 30 years old and have been in an off-and-on relationship for the past seven years. My boyfriend is in the Army and scheduled to go to Iraq soon. We've talked about marriage and kids, and we both want that someday. The problem is that we have different timelines. He'd li......
2008-09-03 08:56:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: We recently had a party at the lake as a send-off for our daughter, who is leaving for college. We invited 60 friends and family members, including my husband's two brothers and their families. These brothers let their children, ages 8, 6 and 4, go swimming naked. Then one o......
2008-09-02 10:29:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife of 15 years and I are at an impasse. A year ago, her 30-year-old daughter, "Carol," moved in with us and brought her dogs along. We are both on fixed incomes, but the added expense and chores don't seem to bother my wife. Carol has a good job but contributes nothing ......
2008-08-29 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have a single male friend who built a beautiful home four years ago. He'd have us over for a barbecue at his new place once or twice a year. Lately, though, it appears he has not cleaned the house since he first moved in. "Matt" has two dogs, and there is do......
2008-08-28 10:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: Recently, my mother-in-law called my husband's cell phone while he was at work. The phone went to his voicemail, which has my voice asking the caller to leave a message. The next day, she called my husband, crying and accusing me of hanging up on her and not answering the phone....
2008-08-27 10:10:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I just started my sophomore year in college and plan on going through sorority recruitment. I've thought about the pros and cons and think it would be a good idea for me to join a sorority. The problem is, last year, when I brought up the possibility of rushing a sorority, m......
2008-08-26 09:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I suspect our 16-year-old daughter has been shoplifting. I don't have any concrete evidence to support this — it's just a gut feeling — but I have seen some expensive items in her room that we didn't buy for her, such as a gold bracelet and a pair of earrings. I have ......
2008-08-25 09:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married nearly 50 years. For the last 20, there has been no sex, which is her wish. We do not fuss or fight, and I am sure our friends think everything is fine with us. I have tried several times to talk to my wife about her lack of interest in sex, b......
2008-08-22 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife has a wonderful, loving relationship with our married daughter, "Lena," who lives some distance away. They talk every day. This is very important to her, as our sons have not been as loving and considerate as one would hope. In the last few months, Lena has been unlo......
2008-08-21 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: After 18 years of a roller-coaster marriage, I find myself divorced. At the time, I thought it was what I wanted. My husband was verbally and emotionally abusive. He would also destroy my personal property and refuse to attend family functions. He placed tape recorders in my car ......
2008-08-20 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: "DPN" asked why men have affairs. When a man drifts, it's all emotion and hormones. We fear getting old. When we come home to wives who are exhausted from work, raising children and doing chores, and who don't have enough energy (understandably) to be attractive to their man, we ......
2008-08-19 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 19 years old. A family member sexually abused me until the age of 17. I reported it, but when I needed my parents the most, they were not there for me. They were upset about my accusation and made me recant. I just finished my first year of college and seem to be having......
2008-08-18 10:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I had always dreamed of planning my daughter's wedding. I didn't want to upset her budding relationship with her future mother-in-law, but then the two of them planned it all — even shopping for her wedding gown. How do I tell her how much it hurts to hear her call her moth......
2008-08-15 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a proud father of two boys, ages 14 and 11. Their mother and I are divorced. I recently found out through DNA testing that my 14-year-old is not my biological son. This has devastated my family. When I called my ex-wife about it, she responded, "Whatever," and hung up the pho......
2008-08-14 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My co-workers and I are experiencing a very awkward situation. I work for a large company. My department consists of a dozen employees and one female supervisor (I am her assistant.). About eight months ago, a supervisor for another department (male) was hired. Our departmen......
2008-08-13 11:21:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have the sinking feeling that my parents, who have been married for 20 years, don't love each other anymore. Mom and Dad are always insulting each other. They never give compliments or even say I love you, except on special occasions. Sometimes I think the only reason they are ......
2008-08-12 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I have two toddler children. When my son was a year old, my wife began to hit him as a form of discipline. I strongly objected and this led to many fights between us. This wasn't the only problem. My wife is verbally and emotionally abusive toward all of us. Afte......
2008-08-11 10:09:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a 15-year-old girl with a big problem. A few weeks ago, I did something I regret very much. After learning that my three best friends had once again excluded me from some inside joke, I got on MySpace and remarked to a friend at another school that they were acting like ......
2008-08-08 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My son recently turned 40. We were told that he and his wife were too busy to have any kind of birthday celebration. My husband and I, along with his grandparents and brother's family, didn't want the occasion to pass without acknowledgement, so we told his wife we would surprise......
2008-08-07 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married more than 30 years. I've worked hard to keep myself attractive for my husband, but he has told me repeatedly I am not what he wants sexually, even though he expects me to be available to him at all times. There have been a couple of infidelities. At a tim......
2008-08-06 09:12:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married to "Max" for 22 years. There were some happy times in the beginning, after our children (now 20 and 24) were born, but not many since. Max is very controlling and treats his family as objects. Our children don't like him. He doesn't have any friends. He e......
2008-08-05 09:20:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My mother recently married a nice man. Unfortunately, my new stepbrother isn't so nice. I'm 18, and "Chuck" is 16. While my mother was dating my stepfather, Chuck and I got along pretty well. Once they married, however, he began treating me with resentment. He started by mou......
2008-08-04 09:55:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for seven years. We hit a rough patch during the last two, and it led to my having an emotional affair with a co-worker (no sex involved). My husband found out the day before I took my maternity leave. He forgave me, and we seem to be doing OK....
2008-08-01 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have a dear friend who has one inexplicable behavior. When we visit, "Paula" will often floss her teeth right in front of her family and guests. This frequently occurs in the kitchen as she prepares and serves food. Not only are bits of dental debris projected abou......
2008-07-31 11:20:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband is an only child, as are both his parents. They have no interests, no hobbies, no friends, no family and no social life. They are stuffed shirts and tightwads. They also are gossips, which means people who know them don't care to associate with them. Mom and Dad w......
2008-07-30 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am at my wits' end with a co-worker. Six of us work together, as top aides to the head of our organization. For the past nine years, we have all sat in our office for lunch. A new director joined our organization this past year, and for some reason feels entitled to drop i......
2008-07-29 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We have three beautiful daughters and a grandchild on the way. Since the beginning of my marriage, I have worked two full-time jobs and additional part-time jobs when needed. My husband has never worked more than......
2008-07-28 10:21:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a 45-year-old man who met the woman of my dreams. We have been married for three years, and I love her with all my being. The problem is her 16-year-old daughter, "Bunny." She is mean, evil and does not respect her mother or me. Bunny has been caught stealing, she talks......
2008-07-25 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband, "John," and I have been married for 15 years. We have no children. For a number of years, we lived like roommates with no physical relationship. A couple of years ago, John admitted he was in love with another woman. He said he wasn't attracted to me and that he ......
2008-07-24 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a 14-year-old girl in ninth grade, and I am really worried that I'm going to die. I don't mean I think I'm going to die immediately. But someday. Honestly, it scares me to death and has even made me cry a few times. These feelings are really frequent at night. I have ta......
2008-07-23 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My frustration with my husband's lack of income has become so intense it's threatening our relationship. We've been married 15 years and have two kids. He's been self-employed since he was laid off five years ago. The first three years, his business seemed promising, but he hasn'......
2008-07-22 08:43:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: For the past 20 years, it's been my husband's dream to bring his sister and her three children to the United States from a Third World country. After spending our life's savings and countless hours of paperwork, they are here. My sister-in-law is a wonderful woman and I love......
2008-07-21 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 19-year-old daughter, "Jessye," just finished her freshman year at college. Two weeks before, she called to say she had run out of food money, so I sent her $100. I later found out she had flown to Florida before final exams. She stayed two days with a male friend at the beach......
2008-07-18 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I married 15 years ago. She has one son, "Evan." Three months after our wedding, Evan's wife divorced him. She'd been supporting him for 12 years, while he drank and cheated on her. This is when he started mooching off of us. Evan lost his license, due to six DWI......
2008-07-17 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My father-in-law has lung cancer, and for over six months, I took him to all his doctor appointments and treatments. Then he called me, saying he no longer needed my help, that he had someone else to do the driving and run the errands. I found out later he was mad at my husband o......
2008-07-16 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My mother suffers from Alzheimer's and has not really been with us mentally for the last 15 years. She is in a home, and my father visits regularly. Dad is in his mid-70s. About 10 years ago, he started seeing a woman several years my junior (I'm 43.). I can understand his need f......
2008-07-15 08:24:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a high-school student. Recently, my uncle "Joe" and I have been hanging out a lot. He gives me rides to school and picks me up from after-school activities. He also takes me to summer programs. He's a lifesaver because my mother hates to drive me, and I'......
2008-07-14 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband is in his early 50s and self-employed. We are lucky that business is good, but it means he works 24/7. At most, he might take one or two days off a month. He works from home, so I can accept his long hours, but his mood swings are hard to handle. He gets very angry, mo......
2008-07-11 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married to "Jack" for 35 years. In the beginning, it was OK, and I thought that was good enough. Jack's parents struggled to support their family, whereas my parents were very well off. Jack has often told people, "I married her for the money." This is a very pai......
2008-07-10 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 30-year-old stepson, "Dan," has had problems with drugs and alcohol for years. Last year, he went through a rehab program, but shortly after got back into drugs, had a horrible fight with his wife and said he was going to kill himself. She called us, saying, "Just thought you ......
2008-07-09 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband of over 25 years has a large number of friends and acquaintances listed in his e-mail address book with whom he exchanges jokes, news, pictures, and at times, porn. This sometimes includes very explicit videos. He shares the majority of these e-mails with me, so I......
2008-07-08 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been married to a great woman for more than 16 years. We were both in our 40s when we met. We didn't have sex before the wedding, although she told me she likes it very much. However, 18 months after we married, our sex life went downhill. A year ago, I told her I was l......
2008-07-07 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Two months ago, out of the blue, my 42-year-old wife of 25 years said, "I love you for the three kids you've given me and the years we've had, but I'm not in love with you anymore. I think we should separate. All I want is half the house." Then she told me to move out for a few m......
2008-07-03 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: When I was in elementary school in the 1980s, there was a contest in which students were to write and illustrate books. I thought I did a good job, but on the day of the judging, another girl won. I was not a sore loser. My problem was this: Several weeks before the contest,......
2008-07-02 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am seeing a man who went through a traumatic divorce a couple of years ago. "Barry's" wife left him to marry someone else, and soon after, she left her new husband. She's now living with relatives close by. My problem is, she constantly calls Barry to fix her car, give her......
2008-07-01 08:52:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: A few months ago, our 31-year-old son married a 27-year-old woman with two young children. They have known each other for two years. Our daughter-in-law had both children out of wedlock, each by a different father. At first, we were very concerned about this, but we have welcomed......
2008-06-30 10:33:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter, "Lara," just finished her junior year in college. Since my divorce from her father 10 years ago, she has been steadily gaining weight. The summer before college, Lara dropped some pounds and was determined not to gain them back. Her self-esteem went up and she w......
2008-06-27 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am in my mid-30s and have a best friend the same age. I have known "Kyle" and his wife for a number of years, and we are involved in many activities together. I also have a younger sister, "Janice," age 23. Last year, Janice met Kyle when she joined our gym. When a group o......
2008-06-26 14:36:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a 29-year-old guy and have never dated — and I mean never. I went on two dinner meetings that did not really qualify as dates, and they never progressed further. I knew immediately that the other person wasn't for me. We both agreed there were no signs of "clicking."...
2008-06-25 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 28-year-old niece, "Jane," has suffered from low self-esteem and depression since she was 14. She is currently seeing a psychiatrist and taking medication for attention deficit disorder. She is "wired" on this drug. She accomplishes her assignments at her job but sometimes tak......
2008-06-24 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our early 30s and have three kids. I am very sociable, but my husband is not. When we were dating, we went to other couples' homes for cards, pool or darts. His friends were all retirement age, but they still were fun to be around. Now we've moved bac......
2008-06-18 10:44:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am going out with a great guy. He has a good job and a nice car, gets along with my family — everything. He is only a year older than I am. The problem is, he is an alcoholic. "Todd" drinks almost every night when he gets off work and sometimes in the morning, too. I......
2008-06-17 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and his father call each other nonstop and talk about absolutely nothing. My husband tells his dad what kind of money we make, what we're doing, if we're going somewhere, what we are fixing to eat, what we are going to watch on TV, and on and on. If they c......
2008-06-16 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 20 years old and engaged to the girl of my dreams. "Liza" is beautiful, smart and very loving. We have no problems in our relationship. Before she dated me, Liza dated one of my best friends. In fact, I once witnessed them making out at a party. The problem is, every ti......
2008-06-12 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I met my husband two years ago. My mother doesn't care for him, and I have no idea why. She told me there was no way he could love me and that I didn't love him. After she came to my apartment and yelled at him, I cut off contact. I had a baby four months ago. I miss my moth......
2008-06-11 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am happily married to the love of my life and we have three beautiful daughters. There's only one problem — the oldest isn't his. My husband and I met when my daughter was 5 months old. Her biological father and I were together for two years, and I found out he was unfait......
2008-06-10 07:56:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My mother is scheduled to visit me in a few months. Mom always feels the need to rearrange my closets and cabinets and scrub my floors. After her last visit, she told my ex-husband that my house is "disgusting." She regularly points out my flaws, such as weight gain and blotchy s......
2008-06-09 11:26:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 15-year-old son, "Denny," has always been a handful. He's much larger than most kids his age, and people expect him to behave older than he is. We live in a small community. Once a rumor starts, it gains fire rapidly. I am a single mother and try to keep an eye on him. I ......
2008-06-06 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My co-worker "Shelley" is constantly making belittling comments about me. Since she transferred to my department, she has said I look terrible in pink, my hair color is greenish and my body lotion is not to her liking. She even bought me another lotion she "approve......
2008-06-05 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have three children. Our eldest, "Bret," decided to finish his last year of college closer to home and will graduate in December. The problem is, I am unhappy with him living with us and want him to find his own place. He works and goes to school, but the up......
2008-06-04 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I was married for 30 years before my husband passed away five years ago of colon cancer. During his 18 months of treatment, he was hospitalized four times for surgeries and infections, and each was followed by weeks of recuperation at home. I communicated almost daily with his pa......
2008-06-03 10:27:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been married to "Beth" for 18 months. We have our ups and downs, but it's a solid marriage. Beth is close friends with "Chuck," a man she dated back in high school. He's a good guy whom I trust and respect, but sometimes I'm a bit uncomfortable with their friendship and......
2008-05-30 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I vacation every year with several other couples. We rent a house and split the costs. We always have a great time together. The problem is, one of the couples has an adult child who lives near our vacation home and chooses to come over and "visit" when the fo......
2008-05-29 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Our 34-year-old daughter, "Simone," a single mother of two, has an excellent, high-paying job and spends 70-80 hours each week at work. In the meantime, her children are with me, my wife or their other grandparents. Simone lives next door to us, in a very nice home......
2008-05-28 10:30:00
Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar
Dear Annie: My husband has a stressful job. To combat the stress, he and a co-worker play with airsoft guns after business hours. Sometimes my husband does target shooting with the guns in the basement. I get very nervous listening to the sound of gunfire in my home. I don't want to......
2008-05-27 11:46:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have a second home at the beach, and there is a guesthouse on the property. We often let our friends, "The Smiths," use the guesthouse, and they frequently bring their friends. One friend, "John," is an older man with terrible health problems. He has been near de......
2008-05-23 10:37:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Since I was very young, I have had an obsession with my health. As time goes on, it's gotten worse. I am in constant fear of having some kind of terminal illness and often can barely cope. I am only in my late 20s and am afraid I'm worrying my life away. I don't enjoy anythi......
2008-05-22 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a nice guy, mid-50s and reasonably handsome. I work hard for my money and by no stretch of the imagination consider myself wealthy. Which brings me to the reason for this letter. I have been divorced 10 years, and during that time, I have been fixed up by friends and me......
2008-05-21 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a highly educated single woman in my 30s who has made many serious mistakes. I have had overlapping affairs and relationships with my co-workers, some of them married. I have come to understand that I did this because I enjoyed the attention. I also thought I could use ......
2008-05-20 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I have two wonderful children in their early 30s. They live in other cities but occasionally visit us with their respective companions. We have no problem with our son's girlfriend or our daughter's boyfriend spending the night. These are serious adult relationships....
2008-05-19 10:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I will be 40 this year and really want to celebrate this milestone in my life. In the past, my husband has told me he needs plenty of notice to plan something special for my birthday, but we've never done much. I don't require a lot to be happy, but this time I wanted to go all o......
2008-05-16 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My 42-year-old daughter has never had the mother-daughter relationship with me that I was fortunate enough to have with my late mother. The latest incident happened 10 days ago, when "Susan" called me at 8 a.m., and I had just woken up. I didn't immediately realize who was c......
2008-05-15 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been dating "Siena" for five months and I care deeply about her, but she has an ex-husband, "Kevin," and they are close. He has a key to her house and comes and goes when he wants. Siena cannot have a conversation without mentioning him. Both of them talk quite openly abou......
2008-05-14 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I had this vague feeling something was wrong with my marriage, so I decided to look at my husband's cell phone call log. Imagine my surprise to discover a text message from a woman. Her number showed up in three months' worth of phone bills. I showed him what I found......
2008-05-13 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married for 30 years. We love each other madly. We worked in the same office for 15 years and retired at the same time, so we see each other constantly and almost exclusively, as by choice, we have few friends. My wife has always had mood swings. She ......
2008-05-12 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married to a great guy for over a year. We have a fantastic marriage, with one problem. Three months after we wed, our sex life slowed to a trickle. Before we married, we were having sex four or five times a week. Now it's less than once a month, and the change happen......
2008-05-09 07:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I met my present husband, "Tom," a few months after my divorce, and he's everything I ever dreamed of in a husband. Right now, we live 60 miles apart, because of our jobs. Tom will retire next year and wants to live where I am, but he'll need to sell his house. The problem is his......
2008-05-08 11:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am deeply involved with a wonderful man. I was charmed by the fact that "Arnie" remained undressed until it was time to leave the house. I soon joined him and enjoyed eating breakfast in the buff. Arnie is Dutch and was raised in a house where nudity was the norm. Hi......
2008-05-07 09:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter-in-law is a danger to herself and others. "Dotty" has been repeatedly arrested for drunk and/or disorderly behavior. She physically hurts her 6-year-old son, and verbally abuses and physically beats on her husband. He and others have called the police on her, and she ......
2008-05-06 09:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 62 and have been married for three years to "Ken," who is 68. We're both retired. When I met him, Ken was very kind. There were flowers and gifts for no reason at all. We took trips and enjoyed life. Once we married, however, it seemed there was nothing I could do to......
2008-05-05 10:11:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: How would you profile a 33-year-old man who will not let his 31-year-old wife wear a bra? At night, on weekends and almost any other time I am not at work, my husband insists I go braless. At 31, and being fairly well-endowed, I am concerned that my breasts will sag from the......
2008-05-02 09:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband has a female friend who makes me uncomfortable. Even though he says they are only friends, I don't like it. I have tried to accept the friendship because they are co-workers, but I just can't. We have always had a good marriage. Since this woman entered the pic......
2008-05-01 11:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My mother-in-law has been living with us for 16 years. She hasn't said one word to my wife in six months. She hasn't spoken to me for well over 10 years. There is no cooperation from her whatsoever. Meanwhile, our living situation has deteriorated, and Mom refuses any of our......
2008-04-30 14:14:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My sister, "Ruth," is 10 years younger than me. She thinks I am the spoiled one, and I am convinced she is. Ruth lives in another state and has not visited my home in years. She telephoned about coming for Christmas, and my husband and I were thrilled and excited. However, h......
2008-04-29 10:42:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter, "Meg," moved to Florida to attend college and graduate school. She is now engaged to a nice young man and will marry in June. My daughter has always been very flat chested, like me. On my last visit, however, I noticed there was an increase in her bust size that......
2008-04-28 09:52:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I recently discovered that my husband is addicted to painkillers. He buys them illegally from people (he calls them "friends") on the street. I have noticed a marked change in his personality since he's been taking the drugs. I know this is common in drug abusers, but I need......
2008-04-25 10:46:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband is very close to his sister, "Cynthia." I also like her very much, as does our 16-year-old daughter. Since Cynthia lives in another state, we see her only a few times a year, and she usually stays in our home. We often spend two or three hours sitting around th......
2008-04-24 11:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I recently found out that when my daughter was 7 years old, she was raped at least three times by her 13-year-old cousin. She had been holding this in and finally had an emotional meltdown. The timing of these incidents happened when her father and I were going through a separati......
2008-04-23 09:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: "Britany" is in a special-ed program at my school. She is really nice and I try to include her in conversations with my friends. At the end of the year, there is a separate prom for the students in special ed. Britany asked if I wanted to go, and I told her I would. The prob......
2008-04-22 14:47:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our 40s. We have been married for 15 years and had a marriage most people would envy. We have no children. My husband recently admitted to an indiscretion with a woman he has known for four years. This is not a woman he would ever take......
2008-04-21 10:16:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My sister won dancing lessons for two. Her husband couldn't go because of his work schedule, so she asked me. I agreed and asked my husband if he'd like to take the classes along with us, but he wasn't interested. Sis and I really enjoyed the lessons. Since we weren't a coup......
2008-04-18 13:08:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My boyfriend, "Sam," and I have been together for over two years. My family has been talking to me lately about breaking up with him. I don't think Sam is abusive, but my family feels he is. He is very controlling, and I realize that. He doesn't like me going anywhere withou......
2008-04-17 14:27:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am in my mid-50s and have known since childhood that I am gay, but have always lived as a straight man. I met my wife in graduate school. I liked her as a friend, and after many years, gave in and married her. I was lonely and couldn't see myself living openly as my real sel......
2008-04-16 10:08:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for three years. It's a second marriage for both of us. The other day, I was working on a photo wall collage and ran across some pictures I'm sure I was not supposed to see. They are snaps of my husband's old girlfriends (between marriages). Som......
2008-04-15 11:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Did you know that young people strive to make a positive difference in the world? In fact, millions of young people volunteer every year, and the number continues to grow. Please let your readers know about the 20th Annual Global Youth Service Day, April 25-27, 2008. During ......
2008-04-14 11:38:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been married for 12 years and have three wonderful kids. I recently discovered that my husband has been a sperm donor for more than nine months. I confronted him after I saw the check for $6,000, and after two days of pushing for information, he finally admitted it. H......
2008-04-11 09:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: A few years ago, my husband, "Don," had an affair with a family friend. I discovered them kissing in the kitchen. I also found out Don's family knew about the affair. My sister-in-law actually provided a place for them to rendezvous. My in-laws still welcome this woman and h......
2008-04-10 11:15:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter and her husband present extremely well in public. In fact, they are foster parents to infants. But behind closed doors, things are very ugly. The foster babies are well cared for, and my daughter requires the extra income they bring. However, their own children b......
2008-04-09 10:15:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm a 30-year-old woman who recently lost 40 pounds. I had tried diet after diet, but as soon as I dropped a few pounds, I'd gain them back. Then I decided to make a serious lifestyle change and cut some things out of my diet for good, and the weight just fell off and stayed off.......
2008-04-08 11:15:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: Two years ago, my father-in-law, on his deathbed, made my husband promise to let Dad's 67-year-old wife live with us because she was scared to stay by herself. It has been two years of HELL. "Doris" does nothing but eat and sleep all day. She never contributes to the househo......
2008-04-07 11:15:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married for 21 years. We have two sons, "Sam," age 13, and "Brett," age 9. My wife and Brett get along fine, but she and Sam clash frequently, despite my attempts to keep the peace. As a result, Sam believes she hates him and favors Brett. When I......
2008-04-04 11:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband, "Sal," and I will be spending a romantic weekend away next month without the children. Yesterday, a package arrived for me. Sal had bought me an outfit for the occasion — a short black leather skirt, fishnet stockings, knee-high black leather boots, a chain belt......
2008-04-03 11:22:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been seeing two women for several months. However, I want to settle down and see one of them exclusively. I need to know how I should go about letting the other gal down. It would be easy, except the women work together at the same company. They each know I am friends w......
2008-04-02 17:28:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: At 23, I'm finally finding peace and happiness in my life, taking time to enjoy friends and family, while still working really hard as a grad student. And for the first time in eight years, thanks to a combination of self-reflection, counseling — and what finally pulled me ......
2008-04-01 11:35:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been married a long time, and my husband has always been difficult, sullen and verbally abusive. Some years ago, I made him see a doctor, who diagnosed a chemical imbalance and prescribed medication. When he was taking his meds, he seemed happy, was pleasant to be a......
2008-03-31 08:56:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I was married to "James" for seven years before our separation in November. I have since filed for divorce. James was always loving and supportive. We both wanted children from the beginning, but it took three years to get pregnant after going to numerous fertility clinics. ......
2008-03-28 10:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My daughter-in-law, "Cheri," is gorgeous, intelligent, witty and charming. She is also spoiled, vindictive, manipulative and hurtful. Did I mention she lies? (My son jokes that she "exaggerates.") Three years ago, my son invited us to visit them. He even suggested we look at......
2008-03-27 11:15:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I just discovered that my 14-year-old daughter, "Melissa," has a MySpace account where she is posing as a 21-year-old. She posted pictures of some other female and said they were of herself. A military man, 27 years old, has been e-mailing her, and some of his letters are ra......
2008-03-26 14:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: It's been almost a year since my husband and I separated. We were married for 12 years, and for most of them, we lived like roommates. Our only real fights were triggered because I kept telling him I wanted a more intimate relationship. He was not willing to invest more in o......
2008-03-25 10:38:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My father passed away suddenly of complications following surgery. We are all very upset, but my mother is suffering most of all. She and Dad did everything together. They were best friends and never wavered in their love for each other throughout their 42 years. I have one ......
2008-03-24 10:01:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My son-in-law is everything a mother could pray for. He and my daughter have been married four years and have a beautiful 9-month-old child. I was babysitting in their home last week and went to check my e-mail on their computer (as I have done many times). The computer was ......
2008-03-21 10:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I have been going out since I was 14. We are now both 17 and still virgins. "Jack" thinks it's time we take our relationship a little further, if you know what I mean. I love Jack a lot, but to tell you the truth, I'm scared to have sex. What happens if I ge......
2008-03-20 15:48:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm planning to marry a wonderful gentleman in a few months. We are both in our 50s and extremely happy. We have been involved in a long-distance relationship for nearly two years. I have met most of "Cal's" family and think they are quite nice, although they are rather dist......
2008-03-19 10:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Every week, a group of my neighbors and friends meets for dinner. "Veronica," a friend of our neighbor's for many years, is morbidly obese. For the past few months, she has had an overwhelming and offensive odor of stale urine. It's so prevalent that eating dinner in her proximit......
2008-03-18 10:35:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: When my daughter, "Caryn," was 18, she ran off with a fellow and eloped. We had no contact for six months. A year later, she gave birth to a son. Within two weeks, she was divorced and living with us. We helped raise "Noah" while Caryn finished school. She then married "Vinc......
2008-03-17 09:45:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Last year, I asked my son-in-law to help with some work on my house and yard. One day I came home from the office, kicked off my heels and laid down on the couch. My son-in-law came in from working outside to get a drink, and we struck up a conversation. He made a few remarks abo......
2008-03-14 09:56:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am the father of five children, four of whom are adults. My two oldest sons, "Jason" and "Jared," are married, but their wives hate each other and refuse to attend family functions where the other may be present. My wife and I have refused to involve ourselves in the fight......
2008-03-13 12:00:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: "Rupert" and I have been married nearly two years. I guess you could say the marriage was unplanned, because we married when I became unexpectedly pregnant. I thought Rupert would be happy that I was having his child, since he'd told me he always wanted children. Wh......
2008-03-12 11:38:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My doctor recently told me I need to get rid of the stress in my life, or I'm likely to have a stroke. My blood pressure is through the roof. At the age of 59, I've decided getting rid of stress means I need a divorce, but I don't want to hurt my husband of 25 years. My husb......
2008-03-11 10:03:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Last year, my boyfriend was caught soliciting a 16-year-old girl over the Internet. "John" was drunk and high on cocaine at the time. He was an addict, and I was aware of it. I chose to stay with him anyway. John has to register as a sex offender, and the felony wi......
2008-03-10 10:19:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I'm an 18-year-old girl who is smart, funny, cute and kind. The problem? I've never had a boyfriend or a date, until now. I'm the oldest child in my family, so I'm kind of new to the whole thing. I met "Jacob," and we hit it off right away. We met face-to-face two weeks ago.......
2008-03-07 10:47:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: What do you think of an adult man — over 40 — playing hide-and-seek with small children? I have repeatedly told this man to stop, but he continues. He is a member of the family, so there is a lot of contact. Last week at a family gathering, I found him in a bedro......
2008-03-06 11:02:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband's boss is a married woman half his age. (She's 25.) At the last Christmas party, she spent two hours with her hand on my husband's thigh. I said nothing because I didn't want to cause a scene. She also danced very provocatively in front of him. My husband says he didn'......
2008-03-05 09:54:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been with my husband for four years, married for two. In all this time, there are still some things I am not comfortable with. "Norm" is a very quiet man who doesn't say much. He has a brother who lives really close, but Norm has never introduced us. I also have never......
2008-03-04 10:45:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Several months ago, I came home from work to find that my mother had taken her things and moved out of our house. She served my father with divorce papers and told my sister and me that we should never contact her again because we were selfish and "took" from her, and that she fa......
2008-03-03 09:53:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My girlfriend and I have been together for three years. When we first started dating, "Mary" unexpectedly became pregnant and we now have a beautiful child who is our life's joy. I would like to ask Mary to become my wife. Here's the problem: Money is pretty tight with a tod......
2008-02-29 10:15:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: My husband, who is very sensitive to certain noises, does not allow any of us to watch TV programs that contain laughter. If we ride in the car together, he won't let us eat anything that creates noise he doesn't like. Today he screamed at the top of his lungs at my 8-year-o......
2008-02-28 10:51:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: Last May, I found out my husband, "Aldo," was addicted to child pornography. He was never very interested in sex, but I had no idea this was the reason. I have four children from a previous marriage, and as the result of being sexually abused as a child, have always ta......
2008-02-27 10:09:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I've been married for 20 years to a wonderful, kind man whose family is a real piece of work. "Bob" apparently has been a disappointment to his parents his entire life. He had a speech impediment as a child, and his father, who considers himself a real "he-man," thinks Bob is "st......
2008-02-26 10:43:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am a college student, and I live with my boyfriend, who just lost his job. He's actively looking for a new one but hasn't had any luck yet. As much as I enjoy my newfound "grown-up" life, I find it very hard to survive financially. I work full time and go to school in the ......
2008-02-25 12:42:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I recently married "Clark" and discovered, after the wedding, that he has a terrible gambling problem. In the past few months, Clark has spent more than $18,000 gambling, and although he's won a little, he hasn't made back nearly as much as he's lost. He also hasn't updated ......
2008-02-22 13:39:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I am 26, have two small children and am involved with a terrific man who is 20 years older. I have been with "Chet" for two years, and we recently moved in together. Chet treats me wonderfully and says he loves me, but he just ended his second marriage in order to be with me and ......
2008-02-21 13:50:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
Dear Annie: I have been in a relationship with "Bryce" for almost eight years. When we met, we were both in unhappy marriages. Bryce helped me financially and emotionally with my divorce, and also pulled me through the death of a beloved sister. He even purchased a house for my children and ......
2008-02-20 10:51:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: My sister-in-law, "Jill," has some serious problems. We often disagree about things, and even if it's her fault, she finds a way to blame it on someone else, usually me. She lies a lot and persuades everyone she is completely innocent. I am tired of it. Everyone knows she lies, b......
2008-02-19 11:07:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: I work in a small restaurant. One of our regular customers, "John," has a mental disability. He's very nice, and I know he means well, but he really makes me uncomfortable. John comes into the restaurant and stays until we close. When we're not busy, my boss lets him come ba......
2008-02-18 10:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: My fiance and I have been engaged for four years. I will graduate college in a year. I have not been working during this time, but I do pay my personal bills. "Joe" has a doctorate and supports my daughter and me. Joe has a demanding career and works a lot. For the past thre......
2008-02-15 11:30:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: I am 24 and getting married next year. The problem is my older brother, "Derek." When my fiance and I asked Derek to be a groomsman, he declined, saying he preferred to sit with his wife and son. Recently, I learned they are expecting a second baby and the due date is three ......
2008-02-14 09:47:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: My mom has now reached an age where it is difficult for her to continue living alone. My brothers and I are all close, although I am the only one living in the area. I spend more time with Mom in a few weeks than they do in an entire year. We recently decided it's time for M......
2008-02-13 11:22:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: My husband and I are at the end of our rope. Our 38-year-old son is a habitual liar. He constantly tells anyone who will listen that he is an engineer. He did go to vocational school but never got an engineering degree and is currently without a job. He gives the impression that ......
2008-02-12 11:49:00
MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL
DEAR ANNIE: My husband is a sweet man who says he loves me. But ever since he took a management position, his already bad temper is totally out of control. He must be civil to his co-workers, so he takes out his frustrations on our daughter and me with a lot of yelling and verbal abuse. He a......
