Asking Eric: Mandatory mental health days stress employee
"I like my coworkers and we get along well together, but I think it's a...
Advice
Asking Eric: Noisy neighbor kids mar backyard oasis
"Children literally screaming. I don't know what to do."
Asking Eric: Wife’s complaint gets husband in hot water at work
"So now I’m in trouble and I can’t shake the feeling that if my wife...
Asking Eric: Adult child of friends ruins parties
"What possible way can you ask someone to sit somewhere less central without being unkind?"
Asking Eric: Daughter’s needs drive parents deep into debt
"Now, once again, we are in credit card debt up to our necks (more than...
Asking Eric: After tragedy, daughter says mother’s love is only skin-deep
"She says our relationship is only skin-deep and that's not what she wants. She's happy...
Asking Eric: Cousin is a good cook with a filthy house
"The bathroom is also often filthy. You need to experience it to completely understand."
Asking Eric: Threadbare clothing causes embarrassment
"My coat has a small tear on the side. I can't afford to replace it....
Asking Eric: Ex-stepmother may lean on estranged stepson
"Now we usually exchange texts on Mother’s Day and birthdays. But otherwise, we have no...
Asking Eric: Siblings don’t show up for mother’s centennial
"I am very disappointed and disillusioned we can’t all be together to celebrate my mother...
Asking Eric: Friends’ prejudiced thinking leads to social isolation
"I have frequently 'ghosted' long-term acquaintances for using derogatory language, as I feel they aren't...
Asking Eric: 39-year-old too anxious to get a job
"As a result of his not working and constant need for financial support, his mother...
Asking Eric: 40-year marriage suddenly sours
"However, my spouse is generally negative and critical toward me, which is wearing on me."
Asking Eric: Local celebrity’s fame puts strain on relationship
"I’m considering breaking it off. I’m not sure I have it in me to be...
Asking Eric: Kitchen remodel divides couple
"We decided to remodel our ’80s kitchen. The process has caused some huge arguments."
Asking Eric: Husband of 40 years leaves abruptly
"My husband ran to a recently widowed friend. Itap been five years."
Asking Eric: After getting dumped, letter writer wants to date younger coworker
"I am thinking of dating her, but my friends said she is too young."
Asking Eric: Friend of a friend is an enemy
"How do I explain to D that I want to hang out with D but...
Asking Eric: Friend’s allergy creates dinner drama
"If we go out again with a group that includes this woman, would it be...
Asking Eric: Sister tries to sabotage new relationship with half-siblings
"Jodie is jealous of my friendship with these siblings and is trying to sabotage it...
Asking Eric: Family asks prying questions about religious conversion
"I want to be gracious, and I don’t mind questions about my Jewish practices or...
Asking Eric: Mother says ‘no politics’ but keeps talking politics
Dear Eric: I’m a 58-year-old daughter to a 94-year-old father and an 83-year-old mother. I...
Asking Eric: Girlfriend mocks boyfriend’s body
"Can you please advise how best to respond to my joke-a-minute girlfriend when she starts...
Asking Eric: Friend punishes those who tell him ‘no’
"I have seen with my own eyes this little tower of terror unleash his wrath...
Asking Eric: Neighbor offended but won’t say why
"I was so distraught as I cannot think of what I said to hurt her,...
Asking Eric: My married ex is still in love with me
"How can others politely encourage him to get over the past and start fully living...
Asking Eric: Friend left out of burial plans but still grieving
"Sadly, nobody contacted me as to when the burial was because I had to move...
Asking Eric: Friend has only unkind things to say about surgery results
"She refused to apologize and even asked me how I got my husband to marry...
Asking Eric: Gift-giver wonders about the donation etiquette
"Do you include any mention of your donation in a card you might bring with...
Asking Eric: Mother-in-law encourages husband’s problem drinking
"She blamed his hospital stay on poor diet despite the doctor’s diagnosis that his health...
Asking Eric: Kids moved away; parents unsure about following
"We are thinking about moving permanently to be closer to our oldest and grandchildren."
Asking Eric: Downsizing senior gives to everyone but best friend
"I'm also human and starting to feel left out of the largesse. Any tips on...
Asking Eric: ‘Third grandma’ feels sidelined
"I want both of us to bond with the grandchildren and I don't want to...
Asking Eric: Two sons vie to house parents
"For many reasons we would like to build on one son’s land and not the...
Asking Eric: Sister read and mocked stolen childhood journals
"I want the journals back, but is it too late? I feel ashamed to even...
Asking Eric: After saving man’s life, Good Samaritan never wants to see him again
"He has done nothing wrong. He is just not someone who I would choose to...
Asking Eric: Work-from-home spouse wastes company time
"I see him running personal errands, taking long lunches, playing video games and doing home...
Asking Eric: Family members’ experiments with AI raise alarm
"Is there a good way to set a boundary like this when you don’t have...
Asking Eric: Mother wants to move, but adult child won’t leave home
"I feel manipulated and just want peace in retirement."
Asking Eric: Boyfriend has to defer college and wants girlfriend to stay behind with him
"He says he’s going to get a job here and he said maybe we could...
Asking Eric: Customer followed after accidentally shoplifting
"I have never stolen anything in my entire life, and I am not about to...
Asking Eric: Significant other keeps tracking dirt into the house
"I tend to go barefoot often, and I can feel the grit on the hardwood...
Asking Eric: Couple hesitant to share good news after best friend’s miscarriage
"How do I broach this subject with my friend and let him know we are...
Asking Eric: Cousin’s dire premonition haunts divorcée
"I don't really even want to be around him as his words have left me...
Asking Eric: Sister’s death leaves questions for family
"There is a good amount of money now to divide up. I am the personal...
Asking Eric: Meet-and-greet with musician leads to infatuation
"I just can’t shake my infatuation and look forward to meeting this musician again. How...
Asking Eric: Neighbors react badly to person with autism spectrum disorder
"For the past year and a half that I've lived where I am, I have...
Asking Eric: Perimenopause treatment prompts awkward questions
"What's a good way to answer this question without going into personal details with acquaintances?"
Asking Eric: Niece bars auntap boyfriend from wedding
"I am very hurt by this decision and have decided not to go to the...
Asking Eric: Longtime friend always looking for a handout
"Even her sister has said Tillie is always holding her hand out for something."
Asking Eric: Letter writer regrets making new friend
"I was going to write to her and say this, but I do not have...
Asking Eric: Brother’s theft leaves family confused
"At this point, I have severed ties with him, but a part of me would...
Asking Eric: Grandfather’s gift to estranged grandchild may come with strings
"Should I encourage Avery to accept the gift as a loving gesture, despite the rejection...
Asking Eric: Daughter’s job frustrations trigger mother
"I try to make up for my shortcomings by doing all of the household chores,...
Asking Eric: Know-it-all friend always has answers even when she’s wrong
"Things came to a head when I told her she needed to stop giving me...
Asking Eric: Brother doesn’t want gay father’s ex at memorial service
"My brother and I (and my mother) were aware of Dad’s being gay and his...
Asking Eric: Mid-40s worker wants to drastically change life
"I keep having so much doubt and second-guessing myself, especially when others express such nervousness."
Asking Eric: Cousin’s AI manipulation mars treasured family photo
"I asked my cousin about the AI work and who had done it. More importantly,...
Asking Eric: Spouse refuses to ever apologize
"Counselors have in the past put the onus on me to preface any negative feedback...
Asking Eric: Accidental voicemail reveals sister-in-law’s true feelings
"I decided to do nothing at this time, but I want her to know that...
Asking Eric: Stepdaughter’s estrangement angers stepfather
"While I'm OK with it, this has hurt my wife more than I can describe."
Asking Eric: Daughter’s breakup hurts mother, too
"My son-in-law feels blindsided, as my daughter is asking for a complete break."
Asking Eric: Noisy neighbors are too intimidating to talk to
"One of them is completely rude about how much noise she makes."
Asking Eric: Adult child may be too distant to be a part of parentap wedding
"Not talking to them or being invited into their life has me confused and sad."
Asking Eric: Agnostic uncomfortable when asked for prayers
"So how do I respectfully respond without denying my own beliefs?"
Asking Eric: Sister’s financial chaos causes strain
"My husband fears if we don’t help, she’ll be homeless, which is not what we...
Asking Eric: Helpful in-laws shut out of family plans
"When we hear what they're doing or planning from her side of the family, we’ve...
Asking Eric: Road trip leads to resentment
"Her husband had no interest in the trip, never prioritized it and basically ignored her...
Asking Eric: Married friend might be flirting
"I do find her attractive but never gave much thought to a romantic connection due...
Asking Eric: News podcasts cause marital discord
"She is totally devoted to cable TV and prefers me to not interrupt; I can...
Asking Eric: Daughter accepted to college, but she may not be ready
"She is only 17 and we think that she should be older before starting this...
Asking Eric: Sister posts paternity secret on Facebook
"The test showed 21 matches with my mother's first husband's last name. I am 68...
Asking Eric: After 20 years, breakup still hurts
"I can't and do not want to get in touch with him. It still stings...
Asking Eric: Busy professional avoids socializing
"As it is, I have a brutal work schedule of about 60 to 80 hours...
Asking Eric: Son-in-law didn’t deliver Mother’s Day card
"They are not in any financial situation that you would need to save a card...
Asking Eric: Husband refuses to downsize
"Unfortunately, when it was time to move, he got rid of barely anything."
Asking Eric: Party host wants to keep guests from drunk driving
"What is the best way to ensure guests drive home safely if they have been...
Asking Eric: Family feud creates confusion about wedding invitations
"Finally, five months ago, I wrote one more letter, asking to talk. None of this...
Asking Eric: Relationship between younger man and older woman tempts gossips
"I live in a very small rural area where everyone knows each other and are...
Asking Eric: Close friend follows extremist groups online
"Do I tell her that I know the truth and confront her, asking her why...
Asking Eric: After estrangement, son misses out on hefty inheritance
"I do not wish to leave my son anything because he has disinherited us."
Asking Eric: Mother struggles to tell daughters about medical diagnosis
"With all of this, I’m having trouble pretending like everything is OK."
Asking Eric: After helping with car trouble, neighbor gives silent treatment
"The car is ancient, we could not prove he was responsible, and I paid a...
Asking Eric: After getting cash to help with basic training expenses, enlistee drops out
"Less than 24 hours later we were told he changed his mind and decided not...
Asking Eric: After getting scammed once, friend is dating suspicious man
"She’s been talking to a guy online for six months who is currently working out...
Asking Eric: Long-term boyfriend wants to leave everything to his ex
Dear Eric: Eighteen years ago, I got into a relationship with someone who was separated...
Asking Eric: Sister’s boyfriend is terrible influence on nephew
"I'm deeply concerned about the negative impact my nephew’s toxic and narcissistic mother has had...
Asking Eric: Adult children put distance between themselves and mother
"I desperately miss my children and wish they would allow me into their current lives...
Asking Eric: Friends split over restraining order
"Once a week I play volleyball with the person my friend says has been harassing...
Asking Eric: Widowed aunt makes huge demands on family
"She’s sensitive, lonely and not very self-aware, yet expects frequent contact and priority attention."
Asking Eric: New wife has put her grown sons ahead of marriage
"My wife's entire family has said that her two sons are going to ruin this...
Asking Eric: Memory issues threaten relationship with hairstylist
"Should I call to make another appointment or just slink away to another salon?"
Asking Eric: Coworker’s lies fracture relationship
"James shared confidential information with our boss – information he wasn't supposed to have."
Asking Eric: Atheist offended by others’ prayers
"I feel like they 'push' their prayers on me!"
Asking Eric: Sister ghosts brother and mother over politics
"After the 2024 election, she stopped responding to me – no birthday or Christmas cards,...
Asking Eric: Son’s family lives in squalor but won’t make any changes
Dear Eric: My son's living situation could fairly be described as squalor.
Asking Eric: Mother doesn’t want son at family funeral because of his drinking
Dear Eric: My father recently passed after a long battle with dementia. My 45-year-old son...
Asking Eric: Talkative guide intrudes on nature walk date
"I ended up feeling like I was going on a date with this random guy...
Asking Eric: Married couple are soulmates but have stopped having sex
"It's been five years since we've had sex. I simply have lost my desire and...
Asking Eric: Neighbors give gifts for every single holiday
"I am proud that I drew a boundary around something draining for me, but I...