I need advice on an awkward situation. I’m female, recovering alcoholic for 20+ years, married with two kids, grew up in a small, conservative middle America town, and currently live in a mid-sized liberal middle-America city. A few years ago, in my hometown at a class reunion event, a friend and former drinking buddy from high school proclaimed loudly and … Continue reading What Do I Owe A Former Friend?

I appreciate all of the people who are advocating for social justice, but why does it seem that so many of them are just yelling on social media, and don’t mention doing anything in the physical world? Also, why do “allies” have the tendency to be super-annoying and up in one’s face?These are not even … Continue reading Why Do Online ‘Allies’ Have To Be So Annoying?

I seem to have lost the knack of flirting frivolously and freely and devil-may-care. There’s a woman I keep running into at gatherings far and wide, and I’ll be honest, part of my problem is that I find her distractingly hot, but she’s married (to a man) and I don’t know if she’s queer or … Continue reading How Do I Tell If It’s Flirting For Fun Or Flirting For Real?

How do I fall out of love with my BFF, who doesn’t reciprocate after a year of misery? I told her I was developing feelings for her a while ago and she said she didn’t feel the same way. I said that our friendship was most important and I would try to forget it. Is there ANY way … Continue reading How Do I Fall Out Of Love With My BFF?

I have a son that is 4 and a daughter that is 3. They are going through a phase where they fight daily over almost everything – crayons, books, toys. My son is usually pretty physically self-restrained but my daughter pretty quickly resorts to biting him. Any suggestions? Thanks,  Worried Dad Dear Worried Dad: If there is any … Continue reading How Do I Deal With Fighting And Biting Children?

There’s this woman who has a crush on all the people who’ve helped her, including me. I want to be supportive of her gaining independence and self-confidence (we’re all in our early 20’s), but I don’t want to be romantically entangled with someone who so easily clings to her “saviors.” I don’t even want to be a … Continue reading How Do I Avoid Romance With Someone Who Is Manipulating Me?

I work with someone who, I am sure, thinks of himself as a “nice guy.” He regularly addresses women in late middle age as “young lady,” including me (we are both in our mid-50s). He thinks he is being gallant. I would really like to help him to understand that this is a microaggression, but I don’t want … Continue reading How Do I Cope With Sexist Microaggressions At Work?

How do I handle my kid’s BFF’s mother? I’m having an issue and I can’t figure out how to approach it. My kid will confide in her BFF, and the BFF will tell her mom– all of that is fine. Then the BFF’s mom will join me in a group of chatting parents and will bring up what … Continue reading How Do I Handle My Kid’s BFF’s Judgmental Mother?

I’m a gay man in my 40s with some friends who have a big case of white gay privilege. When we talk about other parts of the LGBT community, there’s a lot of eye-rolling if the subject is anyone other than a white gay man (and they still think that bisexuals “just haven’t chosen a team … Continue reading What’s Your Advice For Educating My Ignorant White Gay Male Peers?

My partner is by far the dominant personality in our relationship and struggles with crushing waves of negativity towards herself, but that’s not why I’m writing.I’ve read advice columns since I was a kid, I know all about how people don’t change in the fundamentals, and I long ago made my decision that even though … Continue reading Who Helps the Helper?