Things Your Mama Taught You

Dear Short Answers: Someone at work who I know well but I absolutely despise has become ill. I will NOT rush to his side but feel I should acknowledge his misfortune. What should I do? Not A Hypocrite! Dear Not: The line between hypocritical  and insensitive is challenging but not untraveled.  It may be that [...]

Why Buy the Cow When the Milk’s So Cheap?

Dear Short Answers: My girlfriend wants to get married.  The trouble is that we really need the alimony she gets from her ex. How do I make her understand that? The BF Dear BF: We are not prudish but it strikes us as nothing short of offensive of you to be living off another guy’s [...]

The Nose Knows

Dear Short Answers: I work in an office with a lot of people in their early 20s. It’s great to be around such energy and enthusiasm but I do have one complaint. They all (especially the men) smell like they never wash their clothes. Didn’t their mothers teach them how to do laundry? Or is [...]

Checks and Balances

Dear Short Answers: I had a relationship with a very abusive, lying cheating man that ended about 3 years ago when I simply refused to see him anymore. He completely disappeared form my life until I got an email from him last week. He says that he is sober and has a job and wants [...]

New Rules

Dear Short Answers: I very foolishly started to have an affair with a person at work. He is a lot more senior than me but he is not my boss. I now realize this was really stupid (he’s married with kids) but I don’t know how to break it off. I love my job and [...]

Shifting Alliances

Dear Short Answers: I am 13 years old. My best girlfriend is starting to make new friends and it makes me scared and jealous. It’s all I can think about. At school I am always watching who she is talking to and I check FB 90 times a night to see if she is messaging [...]

Cry “Uncle”

Dear Short Answers: Last year I volunteered for a wonderful non-profit organization in the small town where I live. Little by little, I got more responsibility until it seems like I am doing more work than I can possibly handle. But if I don’t do it, it doesn’t get done and the people we serve [...]

Reproductions

Dear Short Answers: I am expecting a baby in June. If it’s a boy, my husband wants to call him John, after himself. What do you think of the practice of naming children after a living and present parent? Expectant Mom Dear Mom: Although this is a common custom in many cultures, we remain dubious.  [...]

Independance for All

Dear Short Answers: About a year ago, I found out that my husband was having an affair. When I confronted him he admitted it. He was ashamed, humilitated and said it would stop. I believe that he ended the affair but I still couldn’t get over it and forgive him. We agreed to stay married [...]

Why Wait?

Dear Short Answers: How long can you wait to write a thank you note? Always Late Dear Late: It is never too late to say “thank you” –  however time is not on your side. People expect to be thanked promptly and warmly. When they are not thanked promptly, they become irritated. When they are [...]

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