Asking Eric: Potential retiree fears boredom
"I've been applying but haven't received any offers. I'm wondering whether I should just retire."
Lifestyle Columnists
Asking Eric: Executor left holding the bag for irresponsible friend
"I want to support her, but I am feeling frustrated. I’m thinking of no longer...
Asking Eric: Former best friend becomes secretive
"My friend has always been ultra-sensitive, easily offended, misconstruing my questions."
Asking Eric: Mother hopes inheritance will bring daughters closer together
"I love both of my daughters and all of my grandchildren. Tracy has emotionally hurt...
Asking Eric: Friend’s body odor causes conflict
"He has a very strong body odor which is hard to deal with. I know...
Asking Eric: Mother still friendly with daughter’s stalker ex-fiancé
"Am I supposed to try to continue to have a relationship with her? Right now,...
Asking Eric: Relationship starting to feel more like a friendship
"It feels like we’re stuck in a place thatap more friendship than partnership, and my...
Asking Eric: Rough nursing appointment scares patient
"The last time the needle prick stung a good bit unlike all the others and...
Asking Eric: Twin brother hijacks wedding with his own proposal
"I want to support my brother, but I can’t understand why it has to happen...
Asking Eric: ‘Very online’ girlfriend shares too much with strangers
"Seeing people reply about me was really weird. They don’t even know me."
Asking Eric: Dying friend refuses contact from friends
"It is heartbreaking to lose this friend of 60 years without saying goodbye."
Asking Eric: Husband in unhappy marriage stays for the adult children
"She doesn’t hesitate to put me down in front of our children. Our kids grew...
Asking Eric: Pushy cancer support group member gives unwelcome advice
"I like this person and I’m afraid to hurt her feelings. She doesn’t seem to...
Asking Eric: Flaky stepdaughter disrespects home
"We can’t tell her what to do, she is technically an adult, but her lifestyle...
Asking Eric: Everyone has opinions about daughter’s medical care
"How do I politely tell people that their comments are rude and that I do...
Asking Eric: Sister has strong opinions about school choice
"Our kids are happy. I like their school. I actually don’t really like the school...
Asking Eric: Reader questions how to find fulfillment in life
"How do I stay engaged, feel completely fulfilled and happy with my life?"
Asking Eric: Brother’s wedding requires nephews be left with stranger sitter at reception
"We have two boys and I’m not comfortable leaving them at a hotel room (or...
Asking Eric: Adopted daughter excluded from inheritance
"I have struggled with feelings of belonging in this family and in terms of race...
Asking Eric: Caregiving husband struggling after wife’s accident
"While I feel awful for what she is going through, this is an awful lot...
Asking Eric: Friends side with person exhibiting abusive tendencies
"They all take my side and assume my current partner must be gaslighting or manipulating...
Asking Eric: Brother’s book reveals traumatic family secret without permission
"When I discussed it with him, I lost my temper and said a few things...
Asking Eric: Estranged sister would be furious to find other family is still in contact
"I haven’t seen Rita since she was about two years old. She won’t remember me,...
Asking Eric: Boss is an alcoholic, but no one at office will face reality
"It is a very sad thing to watch. Thankfully, I don’t have to interact with...
Asking Eric: Friend never picks up when called
"I call her to talk, and she makes everything about her. I am really considering...
Asking Eric: Grieving relative doesn’t acknowledge sympathy gift
"Should I email/text her to ask if she received it, or let it go? If...
Asking Eric: Friends only want to socialize outside, not at home
"This friend feels it's not up to the invited to seek clarification on dates, et...
Asking Eric: Family member’s death anniversary mars birthday
"I will never forget that he died on my birthday, and I appreciate how much...
Asking Eric: Friend is spiritual but also materialistic
"I am blessed and humbled to have a successful family as well but would never...
Asking Eric: Aunt wants to skip wedding over political divide
"I’m pretty sure politics will not be brought up at the wedding. But just the...
Asking Eric: Daughters warn mother of internet scam, but are they overreacting?
"My family still thinks she was going to harm me or that she may not...
Asking Eric: Friend says daughter has problems, but friend may be the one at fault
"Dee labeled Angie as depressed, bipolar, lacking empathy, narcissistic, et cetera."
Asking Eric: Fiancé doesn’t pay his share and lets friends crash for free
"He's a very nice, sweet, caring and attentive person, caters to all my needs, minus...
Asking Eric: Parents concerned about adult son’s depression
"He is bright but has a social anxiety disorder which makes him fearful of interviewing...
Asking Eric: Friend drops the ball after brain tumor diagnosis
"The day before the procedure, she called to say good luck and never called afterward...
Asking Eric: Coworkers constantly excluded older employee
"I am largely ignored because I am quieter and spend more time on work than...
Asking Eric: Longtime friends excluded from group trip
"I am heartbroken, my husband is angry."
Asking Eric: Cane-user tired of encouraging comments about walking
"Now that I've reached a certain age, I interact a lot with people who are...
Asking Eric: Mother refuses to accept the facts of cancer diagnosis
"She blames all of her symptoms on radiation and insists she will get stronger once...
Asking Eric: Friend’s sullen son makes visits a chore
"My daughter is the same age. There are times that he's friendly and makes an...
Asking Eric: Moving in with boyfriend complicated by bully brother
"I am constantly getting into conflicts with his brother before we've even moved in together."
Asking Eric: Parents disinherit son for no reason
"He has since discovered his parents had disinherited him, for absolutely no good reason after...
Asking Eric: Fitness-class nemesis won’t stop pestering
She "insists on counting very loudly with the instructor, slipping in loud singing with the...
Asking Eric: Girlfriend’s neighborly conversations irk boyfriend
"I don’t like this. I’ve asked her to stop and she won’t. Am I wrong?"
Asking Eric: Writer wonders if their stories are worth hearing
"While I regularly encourage my students to write and I champion and believe in their...
Asking Eric: Pal’s huge ego squeezes friendship
"Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with this type of behavior? Avoiding...
Asking Eric: Father’s simplistic questions frustrate son
"The issue is that my dad asks me questions that are simple to look up...
Asking Eric: Stepmom goes to great lengths to avoid ‘useless’ stepson
"My husband refuses to let his son move away with his ex. How do I...
Asking Eric: Niece holds 20-year grudge over bad date
"Now 20 years later, she and her brother are still rude and condescending toward me."
Asking Eric: Parents worry about college-age son’s ‘junk’ diet
"If he liked the way he looks, and if it were totally clear that this...
Asking Eric: Cheating ex returns; asks for second chance
"She admitted to cheating and said it was over with the married man and asked...
Asking Eric: Husband thinks mother is perfect; wife thinks she’s a bully
"She has always treated me poorly and he always defends her."
Asking Eric: Wealthy employer’s chaotic schedule causes stress
"Often the schedule drastically changes usually with little notice, sometimes the same day."
Asking Eric: Grandson has no motivation; daughter enables him
"His father is out of the picture, and his mother, my daughter, maintains him in...
Asking Eric: Informal music group marred by tone-deaf participant
"Any suggestions for how to tell her gently to learn to play or stop trying?"
Asking Eric: Differing religious traditions create confusion in friendship
"Admittedly, as a somewhat non-practitioner, I don't keep up with the Jewish holidays."
Asking Eric: Longtime friends leave couple out of annual vacation
"At any rate, they went to the shore and did all the things we usually...
Asking Eric: Couple gives man cash gift; man sends it to scammer
"I find it upsetting that our money is being handed directly over to a scammer...
Asking Eric: Aunt is disinvited from wedding ceremony, but still expected at reception
"Just sending a gift will upset my sister. I am not sure how to handle...
Asking Eric: Adult daughter’s job struggles keep mother from finding happiness
"This is going to sound selfish, but I want to move away with my boyfriend...
Asking Eric: Introduction of a child changes dynamic for longtime housemates
"She is not getting adequate sleep due to the grandson's health issues during the night."
Asking Eric: Relatives refuse to go one holiday without drinking
"I want to host a holiday but not allow drinking so they can understand what...
Asking Eric: Couple’s happy marriage breaks down over laundry
"So, what is her problem? What is in her mind when she does that? How...
Asking Eric: Party attendee makes her own goodie bag
"If there were a few slices left over, I would be taking them home to...
Asking Eric: Feuding daughters distress mother
"Daughter #1 did not want daughter #2 to marry her choice in husbands but she...
Asking Eric: Neighbors and acquaintances crash private parties
"Neighbors that live on our block see the cars arriving at our house and just...
Asking Eric: Mother resents children who rescued her from financial ruin
"I have started therapy and understand I can't change her or really have expectations of...
Asking Eric: Old love resurfaces 45 years later, bringing back old hurts
"After a few days, I called him and asked him not to tell me that...
Asking Eric: Son judges parents’ marijuana use
"I want to tell this adult child that it's none of their business what we...
Asking Eric: Husband’s childhood friends pull him away from family
"I feel like I should walk away at this point. He is 48, I’m 37....
Asking Eric: Best friend doesn’t return texts; the new normal?
"I mean weeks will go by or sometimes she won’t reply at all."
Asking Eric: Alexa’s eavesdropping makes for uncomfortable visits with friends
"Is this a legitimate concern, or am I being paranoid. Also, if it is a...
Asking Eric: Conflict at concert stage ruins band fan’s tradition
"I am not a wild dancer, I need the cane to keep my balance, I...
Asking Eric: After brother’s death, his terrible wife wants to stay in touch
"I feel like I have been giving enough over the years and I just want...
Asking Eric: 70-year-old fears he is a sugar daddy
"Many might think the 28-year age gap is prima facie evidence of a sugar daddy/sugar...
Asking Eric: Students give teacher gifts but her boyfriend objects
"It doesn't happen often, but it does feel good when the families appreciate all of...
Asking Eric: Brother bullies siblings over aging mother’s care
"Should I let years of bullying in regard to caring for our mother be the...
Asking Eric: Wellness check severs decades-old friendship
"We have always lived in different states, so I reached out to a niece and...
Asking Eric: Holiday hugs rubbed customer the wrong way
"I don’t want to be unkind, but his hugging of strangers is inappropriate."
Asking Eric: Without public weigh-ins, weight-loss motivation falters
"I still weigh myself at home but for some reason don't find it motivating to...
Asking Eric: Friend wants to ‘divorce’ friend’s boorish husband
"Her husband is always around and just so difficult to have fun with."
Asking Eric: Siblings resent parents for their clutter
"We've offered to hire a professional organizer to get the home in order and create...
Asking Eric: Parents suffering financial hardship feel guilty they can’t give to daughters
"I am beside myself that we are completely unable to see all of them, let...
Asking Eric: Volatile daughter-in-law overhears family talking about her
"Needless to say, our son hasn't contacted us at all nor has he let my...
Asking Eric: Boyfriend says ‘I love you’ but won’t commit
"This isn’t my first relationship, but itap moving more slowly than my other relationships have...
Asking Eric: Friend group sides with suspicious HOA president against whistleblower
"My questioning of HOA bylaws and procedures has caused a rift in our core group...
Asking Eric: Friend’s ADHD diagnosis causes conflict
"What can I do to be better at this? Can you suggest any resources that...
Asking Eric: Grieving son’s new girlfriend clashes with house rules
"We are non-smokers and so is my son, but Leslie smokes and that has been...
Asking Eric: Sisters are estranged but one wants closure
"Our beloved sister passed this year. I called to inform her; she grunted and hung...
Asking Eric: Life-long friends stop sharing life’s trials
"I know I can’t feel guilty about what I didn’t know about, but I feel...
Asking Eric: Sexism mars networking opportunities
"The chamber of commerce is mostly older men, and I'm a woman in my 30s."
Asking Eric: Wife wants out of marriage, but husband is sick
"We recently found out that my husband has been on the spectrum with Asperger‘s."
Asking Eric: Old friend has ghosted, should she still get a birthday party invite?
"In the last three years, it has been nearly impossible to see her."
Asking Eric: Father’s kitchen habits make daughter ill
"I offer to take over the kitchen duties, but neither seems to let go of...
Asking Eric: Siblings completely disengaged from mom’s care
"I’m feeling used and abused, and they can’t even do what I ask of them...
Asking Eric: Bride wants to cut terse sister-in-law from wedding guest list
"My fiancé says that excluding her will create drama."
Asking Eric: Friendship with father’s best friend becomes a burden
"My father was barely in my life; he left my brother and I with a...
Asking Eric: Dance student wants to advance without insulting instructor
"It's tricky to bring this up as we don't want to criticize their teaching style."
Asking Eric: Deaf sister excluded by brothers
"It's hard enough being the only girl and having a disability. What do you think...
Asking Eric: Stepmother unsure about giving quarrelsome stepson inheritance
"My husband has made it clear he thinks I should split my inherited land equally...