Carolyn Hax: Bilingual wife won’t agree to speak English among friends
A new marriage is already strained as one spouse excludes the other by speaking her native language when she is among family and friends.
Miss Manners: I need to exclude two relatives from the family reunion
Reader is planning a family get-together but doesn’t want two relatives there because of past thefts and inappropriate comments.
Ask Amy: My sister refuses to use my nonbinary child’s correct name
Reader is worried about sister visiting because she doesn’t respect nonbinary daughter’s name change.
Carolyn Hax: Unexpected pregnancy has her mourning her ‘still-single’ life
She's unexpectedly pregnant with a man she’s been dating about seven months. She’s mourning "all these fun plans we had for our lives with each other."
Ask Amy: I have an issue with excessive gifting during holidays
Reader didn’t grow up celebrating most holidays or birthdays and has trouble with her husband’s family’s excessive gifting during those occasions.
Miss Manners: I’m not comfortable with kids using my first name
While introducing herself to kids, reader felt uncomfortable that all the other adults used their first names.
Carolyn Hax: Husband doesn’t support seeking justice for childhood abuse
One spouse is seeking justice for long-ago childhood abuse, but the other isn't sure that's a good idea.
Miss Manners: Is it wrong to wear the flag as clothing?
Reader was raised to see wearing the American flag as clothing as disrespectful but sees people doing so all the time.
Ask Amy: Should I end our talks after he asked to meet in person?
Reader is conflicted about continuing to message an online friend, who is an unhappy marriage, after he asks to meet in person.
Carolyn Hax: Grandma offends stepson’s family over ‘hard’ grandchild
After years of difficulty with her stepson's daughter, a grandmother had words with the family — and they haven't visited since.
Ask Amy: My mom expects a thank-you note for every little favor
Reader doesn’t have the time to write a thank-you note for every favor their mother does for them — as she expects.
Carolyn Hax: Work-stress-dumping problem has become a marital problem
One spouse needs to offload works stress out loud, and the other “can’t handle being [a] stress recycling bin any longer.”
Ask Amy: Can I invite my nieces but not their narcissistic mother?
Reader wants her nieces at her baby shower but doesn’t want their narcissistic mother — her sister-in-law – there.
Miss Manners: I give unsolicited advice to businesses I patronize
Reader likes to let businesses they patron know about their suggestions but doesn’t like the responses they get.
Carolyn Hax: Grown children cut off mom over stepfather’s ‘harsh’ parenting
A mother struggles to mend relationships with her grown children, who blame her for not protecting them from their stepfather’s “harsh” parenting.
Miss Manners: I’m not a cheapskate but I asked for my money back
Reader sent their kid to a friend's with cash for an amusement park visit. They didn’t end up going and they asked for the remaining cash back.
Ask Amy: My husband was ‘demoted’ from groomsman to officiant
Reader and her husband are hurt by the way their friends excluded her husband from the bachelor party and photos at their wedding.
Ask Sahaj: My girlfriend’s parents disapprove of our queer relationship
By the time I met her, she had been operating under a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy with her immigrant parents for a decade.
Carolyn Hax: Best friend’s communication quiets after a miscarriage
Her best friend, who had been “so supportive” through her pregnancy, goes silent after miscarrying a pregnancy of her own.
Ask Amy: I want to break up, but I don’t want to lose our friends
Reader needs to breakup with their boyfriend after another lie but doesn’t want to lose their mutual friends.