Parents deal with racism from family

Dear Annie: My husband and I adopted our daughter at birth. When my mother-in-law found out that "Amanda" is biracial, she informed my husband that we were no longer welcome in her home. Initially, she admitted it was simple racism, but now she says it's because she can never accept a child "not of my own blood." When our daughter was 3, Mom visited and told Amanda that she was a "friend," not a relative.

A poem by Robinson in tribute to Veterans Day

Dear Readers: Today is Veterans Day. In honor of our veterans, here is a piece written by John Alton Robinson of West Monroe, La.

Wife tired of refereeing husband, mother arguments

Dear Annie: I have been married to "George" for more than 20 years. For most of this time, there has been tension (to put it mildly) between my husband and my mother. He rubs her the wrong way, she snipes at him, and he snipes back. I've had several conversations with them over the years, asking them to be more tolerant of each other, if only for my sake. That works for a while, but eventually, they return to their old ways.

Mom won’t let grandma put pictures of children on Facebook

Dear Annie: Yesterday, our daughter-in-law announced that she did not want pictures of her children posted on Facebook. My wife is beside herself, saying that "Mary" has no right to do this.

Mother worries about lethargic, 26-year-old son

Dear Annie: My 26-year-old son graduated two years ago from a terrific university. During college, he lived on his own and had a girlfriend, but just before graduation, they broke up. My son had a hard time coping, and when he graduated, he came back to live at home.

Footing the bill for unwanted house guest

@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "NewCenturySchlbkLTStd-Bd"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }.MsoPapDefault { margin-bottom: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; } Dear Annie: I have been a single mother for 20 years. Four months ago, I was talked into letting one of my daughter's friends stay with us while her ...

Real world doesn't offer the same atmosphere as college

Dear Annie: I had a fabulous time in college. I was president of my sorority, a peer mentor at our advising center and active in many organizations. I also was granted many awards and honors. I loved rushing around with little sleep and juggling many things on my plate. Now my life is a different story. I struggle with severe clinical depression and debilitating anxiety. After graduating, I took a job that ...

Proper etiquette for taking wedding cake home from reception

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently attended my niece's evening wedding. We are not well, and I told my sister that I didn't know how long we could stay. When she told me the wedding cake would be cut at 11:30 p.m., I asked her to bring a slice home for me.

Mother-to-be struggles with sister, fiance

Dear Annie: Five months ago, I begged my sister to move in with me to get her away from her abusive boyfriend. It took some convincing and tough love, but she finally ceased contact with him completely. Three months after she moved in, my fiance and I found out that we were expecting a baby. We set a wedding date, and he moved in immediately.

Chain-letter e-mails don’t keep friendships alive

Dear Annie: I am constantly getting chain-letter e-mails from a friend I met in a class years ago. The e-mails usually contain vague threats about how something bad will happen to me if I don't forward the letter to five friends, or how good luck will follow if I do. The last straw was when she sent me one that said, "Forward this, and something good will happen. If you are not a believer in God, delete."

Widow grieves loss of husband, relationship with in-laws

Don’t forget the reason behind Memorial Day weekend

Dear Readers: Today is Memorial Day. We know for many, this is simply part of a long weekend. But we hope you will keep in mind the reason behind the holiday -- a day to remember those servicemen and women who have died serving their country. Please honor our fallen heroes by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of veterans. It is also customary to fly the flag at half-staff until noon.

Woman wonders how to help an estranged neighbor

Dear Annie: How can I help a friend who is convinced his neighbors are bombarding his house with rays that have affected his health and caused the death of one of his dogs?

Grandmother wonders how to handle grandchildren who turn into wild animals around parents

Dear Annie: My daughter has five beautiful children whom we love very much. My husband and I often take the kids overnight and on weekends to give some quiet time to their parents.

Husband refuses to work, wife at wits end

Dear Annie: I married "Theo" three years ago. The marriage started out OK, but then I discovered he had a drug addiction. After a great deal of pushing from me, Theo finally got clean two years ago. The problem is, he has not held down a job since he moved in with me six years ago, while I have worked a full-time third shift to support my children and household. It's not enough to make ends meet.

Parent shows concern for daughter dealing with teacher bullies at work

Dear Annie: My daughter has a master's degree in education and spent three years as a nanny when she was an undergraduate.

Couple caught up in son’s dysfunctional marriage

Dear Annie: My wife and I are caught up in our son's dysfunctional marriage. "Martin" and his wife have three children together, and he has an older child from a previous marriage. All of the children are wonderful. They do well in school. But their mom and dad hate each other, drink too much and fight constantly.

Wife unsure of what to do about husband’s dementia

Dear Annie: I've been married to "Ned" for 25 years, and each year it seems to get worse. When we married, he told me I could do whatever I wanted with the house, but he never said I'd be the one paying.