Ask Amy

Dear Amy: My girlfriend hosts birthday parties for her grandchildren every year, and on the invitation she asks that we bring a dish in exchange for a raffle ticket.She has a raffle at the end of the party for something that is not of…

Dear Amy: Years ago, I had an affair with the wife of a good friend (and co-worker).The affair ended my marriage, but somehow they managed to hold theirs together. They are still together today.Even though we all live in the same city our…

Dear Amy: I have trouble insulating myself from the anxiety caused by my young adult sons’ life issues. They are 21 and 26 years old.I’ve done what I could as a mom to raise independent adults. They are doing well for the most part (the…

Dear Amy: My question is about family obligations — both financial and emotional. My sister and I are both in our 70s and retired.She has made life choices that have left her alone and out of money with serious health issues. She has had…

Dear Amy: I am a 16-year-old girl.School is OK (I’m a sophomore), but one thing I notice is the fact that I am really judgmental. I tend to have bad and judgmental thoughts about others.For example, if I see a girl wearing revealing…

Dear Amy: Like a lot of people these days, my adult children and many of my friends are spread out all over the country. I try to stay in touch with them by making short trips to visit them.These trips are usually four or five days (two…

Dear Amy: I am a 45-year-old woman who was just diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.I never suspected I might be autistic until last year, when a friend discovered that she was autistic and sent me some articles about the…

Dear Amy: I'm the youngest of three siblings. My two brothers live a couple of states away from our parents, who are in their 80s. I live the farthest away, on the opposite coast.At the beginning of the pandemic, like most families, we…

Dear Amy: My boyfriend "Steve" and I have been together for over two years. He is extremely kind and generous to me. I can see a long-term future with him.Steve is divorced with three children, ages 5 (a son “A”), 7 (a daughter, “B"), and…

Dear Amy: Several years ago, one of my neighbors asked if I would give her the name of my long-time (about 13 years at that point) dog sitter/walker.This neighbor said that she and her husband never traveled, so she would use the dog…