Annie's Mailbox� from Creators Syndicate

Annie's Mailbox®, August 10 for 08/10/2008

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I have four daughters under the age of 10. We live on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac, which we value as a safe place to raise our family. Last year, a new family moved in and they have slightly older kids. We've become friends with the entire family. My children love to play at their house.

The problem is, last week the "Smiths" announced they are putting in a swimming ...

Updated: Sun Aug 10, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 11 for 08/11/2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I'm a 15-year-old girl with a big problem. A few weeks ago, I did something I regret very much.

After learning that my three best friends had once again excluded me from some inside joke, I got on MySpace and remarked to a friend at another school that they were acting like witches. They found out and immediately turned on me. I apologized several times, explaining that I did ...

Updated: Mon Aug 11, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 12 for 08/12/2008

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My wife and I have two toddler children. When my son was a year old, my wife began to hit him as a form of discipline. I strongly objected and this led to many fights between us. This wasn't the only problem. My wife is verbally and emotionally abusive toward all of us.

After many arguments, my wife finally agreed to stop hitting my son only to do so again later. This pattern ...

Updated: Tue Aug 12, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 13 for 08/13/2008

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I have the sinking feeling that my parents, who have been married for 20 years, don't love each other anymore. Mom and Dad are always insulting each other. They never give compliments or even say I love you, except on special occasions. Sometimes I think the only reason they are together is my brother and I.

I am only 11 years old and can already pick up on their disconnectio ...

Updated: Wed Aug 13, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 14 for 08/14/2008

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My co-workers and I are experiencing a very awkward situation. I work for a large company. My department consists of a dozen employees and one female supervisor (I am her assistant).

About eight months ago, a supervisor for another department (male) was hired. Our departments have to work together, but these two supervisors seem to be carrying it to another level. They are al ...

Updated: Thu Aug 14, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 15 for 08/15/2008

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I'm a proud father of two handsome boys, ages 14 and 11. Their mother and I are divorced. I recently found out through DNA testing that my 14-year-old is not my biological son. This has devastated my family. When I called my ex-wife about it, she responded, "Whatever," and hung up the phone. I haven't spoken to her since, so I got no apology or anything. Now I hear she wan ...

Updated: Fri Aug 15, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 16 for 08/16/2008

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I was absolutely appalled by the letter from "Not an Enabler," the pharmacist's wife who said, "If an adult is hungry, homeless or uninsured in this country, they have made a conscious decision to remain so." There are many reasons why people need help. Some may be disabled or mentally ill, which prevents them from working, or they simply cannot afford the premiu ...

Updated: Sat Aug 16, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 17 for 08/17/2008

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: We are desperate for help. Two years ago, our son's wife asked him for a divorce. At first, no reason was given except that she no longer loved him. Shortly after they separated, we found out she had been having an affair with his best friend. Our son was devastated.

Our former daughter-in-law showed up at our door and asked us not to say anything that would hurt her reputati ...

Updated: Sun Aug 17, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 18 for 08/18/2008

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I had always dreamed of planning my daughter's wedding. I didn't want to upset her budding relationship with her future mother-in-law, but then the two of them planned it all — even shopping for her wedding gown. How do I tell her how much it hurts to hear her call her mother-in-law "Mom"? This woman is NOT her mother. I am.

I could put up with this when the i ...

Updated: Mon Aug 18, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 19 for 08/19/2008

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I am 19 years old. A family member sexually abused me until the age of 17. I reported it, but when I needed my parents the most, they were not there for me. They were upset about my accusation and made me recant.

I just finished my first year of college and seem to be having trouble moving on with my life and making friends. I put myself in therapy a year ago, without my pare ...

Updated: Tue Aug 19, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 20 for 08/20/2008

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: "DPN" asked why men have affairs. When a man drifts, it's all emotion and hormones. We fear getting old. When we come home to wives who are exhausted from work, raising children and doing chores, and who don't have enough energy (understandably) to be attractive to their man, we feel unloved and become susceptible to flirtation. The other woman makes us feel young again.
Updated: Wed Aug 20, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 21 for 08/21/2008

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: After 18 years of a roller-coaster marriage, I find myself divorced. At the time, I thought it was what I wanted. My husband was verbally and emotionally abusive. He would also destroy my personal property and refuse to attend family functions. He placed tape recorders in my car and followed me when I spent an evening with my girlfriends. He retired early, and instead of taking up a ...

Updated: Thu Aug 21, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 22 for 08/22/2008

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My wife has a wonderful, loving relationship with our married daughter, "Lena," who lives some distance away. They talk every day. This is very important to her, as our sons have not been as loving and considerate as one would hope.

In the last few months, Lena has been unloading all her problems on her mother. Lena and her husband have used a too-light hand in guid ...

Updated: Fri Aug 22, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 23 for 08/23/2008

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I suspect our 16-year-old daughter has been shoplifting. I don't have any concrete evidence to support this — it's just a gut feeling — but I have seen some expensive items in her room that we didn't buy for her, such as a gold bracelet and a pair of earrings. I have no idea how she acquired them.

We have a loving family and give our children whatever they need. O ...

Updated: Sat Aug 23, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 24 for 08/24/2008

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I am concerned about my dear friend, "Laura." She has always been a drinker, but recently her drinking has increased to an alarming level.

When Laura is sober, she is a vivacious, outgoing, fun-loving, beautiful person. However, when she drinks, she can no longer carry on an intelligent conversation. She behaves outrageously and it is embarrassing to be in public wi ...

Updated: Sun Aug 24, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 25 for 08/25/2008

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married nearly 50 years. For the last 20, there has been no sex, which is her wish. We do not fuss or fight, and I am sure our friends think everything is fine with us.

I have tried several times to talk to my wife about her lack of interest in sex, but she gets very upset. About 15 years ago, I convinced her to go with me for counseling, but after two ...

Updated: Mon Aug 25, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 26 for 08/26/2008

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: Three months ago, my husband and I accompanied my 71-year-old mother to our home in California. She was released to my care because the authorities in Pennsylvania felt she could no longer manage on her own. She has a history of mental instability (bipolar) and prior to her release had been hospitalized for mental evaluation five times in three months.

Our intention in bringi ...

Updated: Tue Aug 26, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 27 for 08/27/2008

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: I just started my sophomore year in college and plan on going through sorority recruitment. I've thought about the pros and cons and think it would be a good idea for me to join a sorority.

The problem is, last year, when I brought up the possibility of rushing a sorority, my father lost it. I barely got the words out before his temper flared about how bad an idea it was. At ...

Updated: Wed Aug 27, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 28 for 08/28/2008

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: Recently, my mother-in-law called my husband's cell phone while he was at work. The phone went to his voicemail, which has my voice asking the caller to leave a message. The next day, she called my husband crying and accusing me of hanging up on her and not answering the phone.

How dare she accuse me of hanging up on her when she clearly knows how voicemail works. I also was ...

Updated: Thu Aug 28, 2008

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Annie's Mailbox®, August 29 for 08/29/2008

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dear Annie: My husband and I have a single male friend who built a beautiful home four years ago. He'd have us over for a barbecue at his new place once or twice a year. Lately, though, it appears he has not cleaned the house since he first moved in.

"Matt" has two dogs and there is dog hair everywhere. The rugs look like they have never been vacuumed. The kitchen countertops l ...

Updated: Fri Aug 29, 2008

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