ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I fear that I may have raised an "iPad child." My daughter is 4 years old, and for over a year now, she's been glued to her iPad. It started out as a way to keep her entertained while I handled other tasks around the house. As a parent, sometimes I just need a moment of quiet, and the iPad seemed like an easy, harmless way to get...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We needed a plumber recently, and during the four hours he was on the job, the plumber spent well over an hour on his phone for non-work-related calls.

More and more, it seems that hourly workers (tradespeople, home health aides, etc.) are taking personal calls, texting and checking social media during their time with me. It ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend for almost a year and a half. While it's been good for the most part, I feel like it might be time to call it quits. We video chat twice a week and text maybe twice a day, but it's not enough for me anymore. I brought this up early in our relationship, but she told me ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Many months ago, a family member's husband was charged with possession of and distributing more than 10,000 items of child pornography. The police and Department of Homeland Security raided their home and seized computers, cellphones and other devices. He was arrested and spent about a week in jail. He hired a very good attorney, and ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: As a new mom to my precious 3-month-old, I'm experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, from joy to an overwhelming sense of isolation and loneliness. While I adore my baby and cherish these early moments, I can't help but miss my old social life and the freedom I used to enjoy. It feels like my friends have drifted away, caught up in...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a full-time, unpaid caregiver for my husband. My days are spent managing his doctor's appointments and medications, driving him, and making sure he is safe, fed and clean.

On her occasional visits, his daughter has nothing but criticism for me. What is the appropriate response?

GENTLE READER: To give the daughter ...Read more

Dear Annie: For the past four years, my wife and I have barely spoken. We don't share anything or do anything together anymore. The only connection I have left is driving my daughter to school. I've tried everything to fix things between us, but nothing seems to work. Now divorce feels like the only option. But when I think about my daughter's...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I caught my husband talking on the phone to another woman. I heard him say, "Get some sleep, sweetheart," and "Thank you for being my companion." When I called him on it, he claimed nothing was happening and he had used the wrong words.

He admitted to whom he was talking, and I called her. She said she was just a friend and had no ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I have been arguing a lot all year long, if I am honest. We have had a few screaming matches recently that ended up with me saying it was over unless we could get along better. Miraculously, my husband has been acting nicer -- nothing earth-shattering, but there have been fewer arguments and more pleasantness. ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a close friend who is getting divorced because her husband told her he didn't want to be married anymore. He "wants to be free." Of course, she is devastated.

She has asked my husband and me to join her, her son and the ex for dinner, saying she wants us to see him before he moves. I have already told her that I'm ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a sister who cut ties with a sibling, and I'd like to offer my perspective on why. Sometimes, family members who choose to disengage have valid reasons for doing so.

In my case, my sister has spent her life using and manipulating others. Her world is full of drama, and she constantly expects our family to rescue her from ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My 98-year-old mother has spent the last eight years in a nursing home. My siblings and I placed her there when her health declined to a point where it was no longer safe for her to live alone. Her mind is sharp, but she has a hard time getting around and caring for herself. She has made friends there and is loved by everyone who ...Read more

There's a saying you've probably heard a thousand times: "Don't go for the low-hanging fruit." You should avoid the easy, obvious choice and reach higher, stretch yourself, and go for the real challenge. But let's pause for a moment: Why, exactly, are we dismissing this perfectly good, reachable fruit? Have we learned nothing from centuries of ...Read more

Dear Readers: I was so touched by all of the feedback from military families. Thank you for your service, and thank you for sharing some of the responses that you have felt most comfortable with. Below are some examples.

Dear Annie: I absolutely loved your response to "Wondering Vet." As a former military member myself, I also found it ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My wife continually dirties the floors in our home because she refuses to stop wearing shoes in the house. She'll be out all day -- at work, running errands, etc. -- and then come home and keep her same shoes on. She has even done yard work and then come inside wearing those same shoes!

It's a family trait for her -- her mother does ...Read more