Amy Dickinson

2 months ago | arcamax.com | Abigail Van Buren |Amy Dickinson |R. Thomas |Annie Lane

DEAR ABBY: I am a single parent of two girls. My oldest, "Becca," is 17. She has been dating this guy and, as soon as she graduates, plans to move in with him and two of his friends (another couple). What worries me is that their relationship is pretty toxic. They are always fighting. I have begged her not to move in with him, but she won't budge. Becca has some abandonment issues. Her mom left us when Becca was a baby, and my second wife was emotionally abusive to everyone before we divorced.

2 months ago | arcamax.com | Judith Martin |Nicholas Martin |Jacobina Martin |Amy Dickinson

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the appropriate thing to do or say when one's restaurant order is wrong? When I had lunch with a group of eight people, the waiter did not write down any of our orders. That was not a good start. He brought me a spicy salad drenched in dressing, when I had asked for the non-spicy salad, dressing on the side. Judging from the looks on my colleagues' faces, I was not the only one who received the wrong order. What would have been appropriate to say?

2 months ago | arcamax.com | R. Thomas |Amy Dickinson |Abigail Van Buren |Annie Lane

Dear Eric: I have been in a relationship with a man going on six years now. I love and care about him deeply. However, we have one serious problem in our relationship. He is always going to his ex-wife’s house. He goes there about three nights a week, coming home drunk afterward. When I tell him that it really upsets me, he says he is visiting his son (age 27), who still lives with his mother. I understand that he loves his son and wants to spend time with him.

2 months ago | arcamax.com | Harriette Cole |Amy Dickinson |R. Eric Thomas |Abigail Van Buren

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm feeling completely overwhelmed by my financial situation. With paying off student loans, covering my living expenses and trying to save for the future, I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water. Rent alone takes up half of my paycheck, and despite budgeting carefully, I'm struggling to make any real progress. I don't want to move in with my parents, because I value my independence and feel like it would be a step backward, but it's starting to feel like my only option.

2 months ago | arcamax.com | R. Thomas |Amy Dickinson |Abigail Van Buren |Annie Lane

Dear Eric: I have known "Mary" for almost 10 years. We have a strictly business/professional relationship which requires us to meet several times a year. Although we don't socialize, we do joke around and have small talk about family, pets, travel, movies, etc., when we meet. We've always gotten along well. I know that Mary is gay (she has told me this). Based on our conversations, Mary has identified as female, although her physical appearance and clothing do not pin her to a specific gender.