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...
Advice
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 parent’s 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...
Asking Eric: Wife’s hair keeps ending up in packed lunch
"I don’t want to be critical or seem ungrateful, but it’s pretty unappetizing."
Asking Eric: Friends send cards but refuse to visit
"For a while I told them to stop by and see us, or to call...
Asking Eric: Son chooses wife over mother
"How can they treat me this way? I am so hurt and confused."
Asking Eric: After father’s death, stepson wants nothing to do with stepmother
"I do not like spending time with his wife because she is very controlling and...
Asking Eric: Grandparents want to stop paying for partying granddaughter’s education
"Do we have a right to say she must maintain a better GPA, or we...
Asking Eric: Young adult hates new city home
"I feel like it’s not very adult of me to pick up and leave, but...
Asking Eric: Distant grandmother’s presents left unopened
"I am at a loss as to how to proceed. I don't get it. My...
Asking Eric: Aging couple’s calendar is too full
"My husband and I agree that it's over the top, and we choose to slow...
Asking Eric: Youth podcaster ghosted by professional contacts
"Are people ghosting me because I'm young?"
Asking Eric: Retired parents feel guilty they’re comfortable while their kids pinch pennies
"We are not rich, but our financial adviser said we should be in good shape...
Asking Eric: Caregiving friend struggles to hold boundary
"We've coached him on how to do this, but it hasn't been effective. He does...
Asking Eric: Veteran wants to find lost love
"I felt that she was way too good for me and I broke off contact...
Asking Eric: Adopted daughter’s birth grandmother has questions
"The birth mother died of a drug overdose shortly thereafter. We never met her."
Asking Eric: Husband’s downward spiral put him and others at risk
"We haven't had sex in nine months, (I have begged him) and he refuses to...
Asking Eric: Brother’s burial plans reject his faith tradition
"I would like to send a letter to my brother explaining why I hope he...
Asking Eric: Grandfather doesn’t want to hold grandchildren
"I’m not a baby person. I don’t like holding them and doing all the things...
Asking Eric: Sister shares, then retracts, harsh opinion about brother’s life
"Did reading one book prove more compelling than a lifetime of knowing me? And what...
Asking Eric: Sister’s personality drastically changed after divorce
"I feel like I’m trapped by her decisions now. Is it possible to set a...
Asking Eric: Family wants billionaire cousin to share
"I realize I have no rights to this money but would like my children to...
Asking Eric: Friend’s nose-blowing goes too far
"This is a disgusting habit she has, and you can clock that she is going...
Asking Eric: Grandparents forbidden from hugging grandchild
"Here is the problem. Our daughter-in-law will not let grandma pick up the new baby...
Asking Eric: Teen daughter plans to marry boy who belittles her
"I'm worried that if they marry at 18, she'll be miserable and regret it."
Asking Eric: Husband posts unflattering photos to his large social media audience
"How do I approach this habit of constantly posting unflattering photos with him?"
Asking Eric: Church group doesn’t care about friend’s wealth
"My question is how to politely tell this man to stop. We all know he's...
Asking Eric: Longtime massage therapist won’t stop talking
"I have tried starting my sessions by saying I’m tired and would like to just...
Asking Eric: Mother’s lies are getting out of control
"My mother doesn't have any close friends but knows people from her church so we...
Asking Eric: Self-centered high school friend ruins social gatherings
"It doesn't matter what any of us mention, she's done it and she has done...
Asking Eric: Sister-in-law supports ‘useless’ adult son
"There is no evidence of physical abuse yet but plenty of yelling and telling her...
Asking Eric: Potential retiree fears boredom
"I've been applying but haven't received any offers. I'm wondering whether I should just retire."
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 that’s 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...