ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My "Uncle Ron" raised his son and daughter all alone, and I think it was a struggle for him. Over the years, he put affection on the back burner and became results-driven. He did his best to make sure his children were A students, hard-working, well-behaved, well-spoken and aligned for success. I think his rigid parenting style ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I are going through a rough patch, and I just don't know what to do. He seems to believe that I am cheating on him.

This all started one night when I returned home pretty late from going out with a girlfriend who was visiting. It's rare that I stay out late drinking or partying. My spouse knew exactly where I was ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been struggling with what feels like depression. I've never experienced these long periods of sadness, isolation and laziness before, but for the past year, I've been in a season of hardship, battling unemployment and other life changes.

The other day, a close friend of mine broke down crying about how horrible she felt ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently started budgeting after realizing how much money slips through my fingers each month, especially on little treats like coffee runs, lunches out and takeout. When I added it all up, I was shocked at how much I've been spending without even realizing it. I know I need to be smarter with my money so I can save for my ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend has a habit of oversharing personal drama on social media, and it's starting to make me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. Often, I'm tagged in posts or mentioned in stories that reveal private conversations or situations that I never intended to be public.

I laughed it off at first, thinking it was harmless, but...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost a year now, and for the most part, things have been going really well. He's kind and supportive, and he makes me feel valued. There's one thing that's been bothering me more and more lately: how often he talks about his ex. He brings her up in casual conversation, shares stories from...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My younger brother got married last year. This is his first marriage, and he's in his 50s. In some ways, I think getting married later can be a bit easier: You know what you want, you know your boundaries and you are likely more established (professionally and financially). I think in some ways that rang true for my brother, but ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently received a job offer from another company that comes with a significantly higher salary than what I'm currently making. The role is in a field I've been wanting to move into for years, and while it's a little intimidating, it genuinely excites me. When I told my current employer about the offer, they surprised me by ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I grew up in New York and have been here my entire life. I decided about a year ago that I wanted to move to a new city. I only flirted with the idea at first, but recently, my boss told me that if I'm serious, they could transfer me to the Chicago office. I've taken them up on their offer and will be moving within a few months. ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My neighbor's young son has developed a habit of coming into my yard and picking flowers for his mom from my garden, which is right on the border of our two lawns. She always laughs and says how sweet it is when he hands them to her, but I can't help feeling frustrated. I've spent countless hours planting, watering and tending to...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son recently lost his job and asked if he, his wife and their two young children could move back into my home for a few months while they get back on their feet. I love my son and my grandkids dearly and I want to help them, but the idea of having four extra people in my house, especially two energetic children, feels ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently got promoted at work, which I was really excited about until things got awkward with a close colleague of mine. Before the promotion, we were on the same level, working side by side for over two years. Now that I'm her supervisor, the dynamic has changed, and it's been uncomfortable. She's been distant ever since I got...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Recently, I saw that one of my cousins came out on social media. She posted herself and a partner kissing, and a lot of her friends were commenting, congratulating them and admiring their courage.

My cousin is 11. Some of the photos are of her and her partner holding hands, some show kissing and some seem set at home or in their...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My cousin decided to plan a family reunion this year. We have a large family spread throughout a few states and a few countries. My cousin refused to allow anyone else in the family to help her plan this grandiose reunion, despite several people asking. It was a huge undertaking, and in the end, there were a lot of missteps. Many...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been working in tech for the past five years, and I've saved up a decent amount of money with the intention of taking a year off to travel. It's something I've dreamed about for a long time. I want to see the world, experience different cultures and give myself space to reflect on what I really want in life. Lately, though, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work remotely, and while I've enjoyed the flexibility and freedom it provides, I've started to feel increasingly isolated and unmotivated. At first, it felt like a dream: no commute, more control over my schedule and the comfort of home. Lately, I've noticed that I'm missing the daily interactions, spontaneous conversations and...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My aunt is hosting an old friend of hers, "Fran," who moved here for more work opportunities. Fran arrived nearly two years ago as travel nursing became increasingly popular and lucrative in the post-pandemic era. Originally, Fran moved in because she was trying to save money; since my aunt and her husband live by themselves and ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in midtown Manhattan, and as you probably know, there was a mass shooting there recently. New York City is known for its chaos, but this still feels so unreal to me. I work in the building immediately next door to the one this gunman targeted. Luckily, I happened to leave work just early enough to avoid the awful ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Over the past three years, my ex and I have found our way back to friendship. When we first broke up, we left each other alone, which was probably for the best. Lately, we check in from time to time and cheer each other on in new endeavors. About a month ago, I found myself in a jam: My car broke down late at night, and I needed ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 13-year-old daughter has recently started refusing to attend family gatherings like birthday parties or Sunday dinners at my parents' house. She says they're "boring, fake and a waste of time." I understand that she's a teenager and trying to find her own identity, but it's really starting to hurt my parents' feelings. They ...Read more