Carolyn Hax is away. The following first appeared in 2010. Hi, Carolyn: I’ve always considered myself an independent person. I am a married, full-time working mother of two young children, so I’ve got my hands…

Carolyn Hax is away. The following first appeared Jan. 10, 2010. Dear Carolyn: When my boyfriend and I get into arguments, he inevitably says, “Maybe we shouldn’t be together,” or, “There are obviously compatibility issues.”…

Dear Carolyn: My ex-wife asked for a separation in December 2022, and we finalized the divorce in August, so it’s not even been six months. I know it was for the best; we weren’t happy…

Dear Carolyn: My son and I are close, but my brilliant daughter has largely shut me out. She is 30 but, I believe, still nursing resentment over my divorce from her mother when she was…

Dear Carolyn: My best friend from high school and college and I drifted apart as young adults. As I moved on and formed new friendships, I realized just how toxic this former friend was for…

Dear Carolyn: I have been dating a woman long enough that we’ve talked about marriage. I get along well with her family, who live near us. She has never met my family, who do not…

Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: Two years ago, I (a woman) became close friends with “Trevor,” whom I met through a shared passion for a certain political issue. His then-fiancée, “Veronica,” was supportive…

Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: My husband and I own a vacation cabin, which we have always encouraged my son and his wife to use on their own. This year, they were planning…

Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: As the long-distance daughter to an elderly, widowed mother with health needs, I have to navigate a tricky relationship with my sister who lives locally. Sister beat breast…

Hi, Carolyn: I was in a 15-year relationship that ended about a year and a half ago. It was mostly good but pretty rocky for the last five, with things both of us did to…