Lifestyle Columns

Holding Firm on Boundaries With Estranged Family
Dear Annie®, Apr. 29, 2026
Dear Annie: I am a woman in my early 40s, living several states away from the town where I grew up. My relationship with my parents has always been complicated, especially with my mother, and for the last 25 years I have also been estranged from my older sister.

Splitting the Mental Load Makes for a Healthy Marriage
Dear Annie®, Apr. 28, 2026
Dear Annie: My husband is a wonderful man in many ways, but lately I feel more like the household manager than his wife. We both work full time, yet somehow I am still the one remembering birthdays, scheduling appointments, keeping track of the groceries, planning family events and noticing when something around the house needs to be done.

Choosing Peace Over an Endless Battle
Dear Annie®, Apr. 27, 2026
Dear Annie: I have read your responses to letters about barking dogs and neighborhood noise, and I appreciate the calm, compassionate way you approach these conflicts.