ArcaMax

Dear Eric: I have had the same dentist for the past 15 years. Within the last year, I have found myself wanting to know him on a personal level. I know he is not involved in a relationship, and he seems interested as well. How should I proceed?

– Makes Me Smile

Dear Smile: First, find a new dentist. The American Dental Association’s Code ...Read more

Dear Eric: My younger sister, Lucy, and I are both in our 20s and share an apartment.

Growing up, I faced a lot of double standards from our parents compared to Lucy, especially when it came to household responsibilities. Lucy was coddled to the point of depriving her of developing basic life skills.

As adults, I end up picking up the slack ...Read more

Dear Eric: We have two nephews, 17 and 21, and felt it was time to teach them money management skills and saving for retirement. At Thanksgiving, we funded two brokerage accounts for each – a $7,000 Roth IRA and $3,000 brokerage. We also gave two books on long-term investing.

Given the 40-plus years until they retire, the funds, if added to, ...Read more

Dear Eric: One of my best friends is a woman I introduced to my boyfriend's brother. They married last October after knowing each other for about six months. My friend often confides in me about what's happening in the marriage. She is sensitive about her husband's relationship with his ex-wife and told him that he should only communicate with ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband passed away unexpectedly at a young age. I am a few years younger than he was, so of course it was a shock. The problem is a friend, "Nancy", discussed details surrounding his passing I would not have shared. It created the additional stress of people I hadn't heard from in years contacting me and I clearly didn't inform ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am a college student in my mid-20s, and I keep losing friends. Some friends have ghosted me, some got frustrated with me when I tried to figure out why they ended a friendship with me, and some have said that I talk about my problems too much, but they still want to be friends. One friend just lost their mom and told me what ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am two months pregnant, or so I thought. Three months ago, I met Steve at a concert. Our relationship developed quickly, and we became intimate after only a few weeks.

Steve is so excited about the baby. It would be his first. He has even offered to marry me as soon as possible.

When I went for a checkup the other day, the doctor ...Read more

Dear Eric: My husband has been deceased for nearly a decade. Recently, I was going through his leftover files. For years he insisted that his ex-wife had lied to his children, telling them that he abandoned the family, didn't want the children and never paid child support. I have found letters, from 60 years ago, that his lawyer sent to him ...Read more

Dear Eric: My son, who is 31, still lives at home. He is a great person and is not antisocial. He has a job that doesn’t pay much. I want him to start his own life. I push him to get a better job so that he can afford to live on his own, but he is very resistant to my pleas.

His mother and I are so worried that he is missing out on life. I ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have been in a relationship with my partner for six years. We have two young daughters. The first year was really rough; he was in active addiction, and we lived homeless in my car, in a disgusting motel and even slept outside in the winter. After a few jail trips and two rehab trips, he finally got sober and has been for almost ...Read more

Dear Eric: I don’t consider myself a “square” but I’m having a hard time reconciling some relationships. My cousin‘s family now owns a weed store and even sells THC-infused food they can consume while in the store. My good friend did LSD at her son‘s wedding. I feel very judgmental about their choices, and I don’t know if I should ...Read more

Dear Eric: I told my husband I was done in our marriage during a marriage-counseling session close to nine months ago. This was our second round of marriage counseling. I have also done some therapy on my own. I have not taken any actions to indicate I'm done other than to occasionally remind my husband that I'm the one that wants out when he ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have been married to my husband for 16 years and we have a wonderful, blended family. Our kids are now grown (ages 26-35). My husband’s first wife died of a drug overdose/swimming accident 23 years ago. They were in the process of a divorce at the time.

Her ashes are in a box in our garage. Many times, over the years, they were ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have a friend who I've been friends with for about 10 years. We both share views that lean left. In the past we've shared many dinners discussing the inequities of our country and other political type topics. My friend is constantly lamenting about how unfair our society is and is super empathetic to the plight of the disadvantaged,...Read more

Dear Eric: I am a 47-year-old woman and was diagnosed with a rare terminal illness three years ago after several years of investigations. I have a rough time frame of six to 10 years. I have no family and no close friends. The only person I see is my neighbor who is also my cleaner, but that’s the only time I see her. I am totally alone, ...Read more

Dear Eric: I will turn 65 in a few months and have announced my plans to retire. I have a long list of things I want to do, and after 50 years of employment and saving, I am well situated for these next years. At least, that is what my financial adviser and balance sheets tell me.

I really yearn for more discretionary time and my physical ...Read more

Dear Eric: I have two daughters with special needs. They function around the level of a 10-year-old. They are also nonverbal in public. It is very unlikely that they will ever have a relationship with anyone, much less have children. So, it is likely that I will never be a grandmother. My question is how do I deal with the grief that causes me? ...Read more

Dear Eric: I am a young adult with a movement disorder similar to Parkinson's. It causes uncontrollable, violent, jerky, muscle movements, called dyskinesias, in nearly every part of my body. These dyskinesias resemble the effects of illicit substances and can make people who don't know me very uncomfortable. How would you suggest I address this...Read more

Dear Eric: Christmas is a very difficult time for me, and I typically don’t celebrate as I don’t have any close family, and it only brings back painful memories. I moved a couple years ago and found a very great group of friends that have quickly become my chosen family. I was determined to take back how I felt about Christmas and began to ...Read more

Dear Eric: I belong to a small book club that now comprises six older women. All of us have been with the group for more than 30 years. For the most part, we all get along and enjoy the variety of books that are selected to be read each year. We have one member who is very opinionated about everything and does not hesitate to let her thoughts be...Read more