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Pet disparity puts strain on marriage

Dear Annie: I grew up never allowed to have pets. I’ve been married almost 30 years to a man who allowed me to have a small inside dog, and he doesn’t mind her so much but hates the two we have outside. Both are rescues, one from his oldest son that had him tied to a tree, the other from a rescue group. Both weigh under 7 pounds. He hates them and looks for any excuse to get mad about them. One is a thief but doesn’t chew up her finds. The other digs tiny holes that a pecan can fit in, but not very many, two or three at any given time. The issue is that, if our granddaughter ...

Daughter seeks support, not judgment, from mother

Dear Annie: My mother, who is now 62, has always been a dominant personality, keen on having things go her way. I’m 34, an independent graphic designer, and I pride myself on being self-sufficient and creative. But every time I share aspects of my life with her -- be it career choices, romantic partners or even smaller decisions like adopting a pet -- she critiques them, often unsolicitedly, making me second-guess my decisions. Her disapproval, which is always veiled as concern, is making me not want to be around her. I’m starting to avoid sharing any personal news with her at all ...

Teaching kids to care for the Earth

Dear Heloise: Last month, I got my five grandkids started on a project that I hope will be lifelong. I took egg cartons and filled each egg slot with dirt. Then we planted seeds in each of the egg slots. They got so excited when the tiny green leaves started to sprout. My goal is simple. I want them to learn to grow food and understand how good food tastes straight from the garden. I want them to learn how important it is that we all take care of the Earth and feed not only ourselves but others as well. This is how I taught my own children to appreciate and care for the world around ...

Mental Health Awareness Month: an important occasion that everyone should like

May is the month is which we observe mental health awareness, an issue that has strong personal resonance with me. I’ve had two instances in my life when I suffered from delusional thoughts. One occurred in 2004 when I had to make a decision about giving up my job and going to graduate school. The other happened in 2019 when I was dealing with my dad’s death. They were serious. In 2004 I had wild thoughts about going broke and becoming homeless. In 2019 I wandered away from my home, looking for my dad. I couldn’t tell anyone what I was doing for fear that they’d think I was ...

Promotion shifts dynamics of longtime friendship

Dear Annie: My friend “Emily” and I go way back to our college days, when we used to share absolutely everything with each other -- the good, the bad and the ugly. She recently got a promotion at work (she works for a well-known accounting firm), something I know she’s been dreaming of for a while. Of course, I’m super happy for her, but things between us have kind of shifted since then. Now it’s all about her job and her new responsibilities and her added stress, and whenever I try to bring up something about my work or what’s going on with me, it feels like she doesn’t ...

Do something good

day, try to do something good for the environment (i.e., recycling, not letting the water run). Or try doing something good for somebody else (giving a compliment or holding the door open for someone). Then do one good thing for yourself without guilt, like reading five pages from your favorite book or using your good china for breakfast. -- Heloise AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL Dear Heloise: A reader incorrectly stated in a recent column that an America the Beautiful pass was $80 annually. Actually, the lifetime pass is $80, while the annual pass is $20. The senior pass is available to ...