Carolyn Hax: How ‘charming’ is a surprise wedding at family reunion?
Dear Carolyn: My extended family is large and geographically spread out. All of us do not get together very often. This summer, we have a family reunion planned at a…
Carolyn Hax: Real cost of going halfsies on a modest engagement ring
Dear Carolyn: My fiancé and I have been together several years and are getting married next year. Marriage is not something he cares about, but he knows it’s important to…
Carolyn Hax: Life paralysis looks like seven hours of scrolling a day
Dear Carolyn: I think I should go to therapy because of my increasing sense of paralysis. I scroll for seven-plus hours a day. I put off both hobbies and important…
Carolyn Hax: Why is he undermining his partner’s very public success?
Hi, Carolyn: I have just had a very public success: Something I’ve written and starred in premiered to rave reviews in the national paper, sold out houses, etc. It’s like…
Carolyn Hax: In-laws use live stream to view couple’s church attendance
Hi, Carolyn: Our church started streaming its services online during the pandemic, and this continues today. My in-laws often watch the services together. They live far away, belong to their…
Carolyn Hax: He asked late wife’s bestie for friendship with benefits
Dear Carolyn: I lost my wife last year to breast cancer, and it was the most devastating thing I’ve ever experienced. I can’t imagine ever wanting a romantic relationship with…
Carolyn Hax: Family pushes siblings to reconcile after mother’s death
Dear Carolyn: My mom passed away unexpectedly in October. One of my siblings (we are all adults with children) caused a lot of drama in the aftermath, during the funeral,…
Carolyn Hax: Husband has one-night stand, wants spouse to ‘let it go’
Dear Carolyn: My spouse of 25 years recently admitted to an affair. This happened after I was suspicious for a while. I finally confronted him after being diagnosed with HPV.…
Carolyn Hax: Family fractures when sister calls brother-in-law abusive
Dear Carolyn: Until last year, our daughter, 34, and her 32-year-old sister were as close as could be. We all live nearby. About two years ago, tension became obvious between…
Carolyn Hax: Working for a celebrity has this employee feeling ‘small’
Dear Carolyn: I have worked for a pretty significant celebrity (“X”) for most of my adult life. I started by nannying for them after college, then became their personal assistant,…