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Bonds, babies and boundaries

Dear Annie: My sister, “Renee,” and I have always been close, but things changed after she had a baby last year. I was genuinely happy for her, and I’ve tried to be supportive -- dropping off meals, babysitting when I can, texting to check in. But ever since the baby was born, she’s been distant and, honestly, a little cold. She cancels plans last-minute, rarely responds to my texts, and when we do talk, she only wants to discuss the baby. I’ve invited her to lunch or coffee just the two of us, but she always says she’s too busy or tired. I get that motherhood is ...

Tension at the lake house

Dear Annie: Every summer, my husband “Jake” and I spend a week at his parents’ lake house in Wisconsin. It’s a beautiful spot -- right on the water, with pine trees, hummingbirds and a little dock where Jake used to fish as a kid. When we first started dating, I actually looked forward to these trips. I imagined quiet mornings with coffee by the lake, helping out in the kitchen and bonding with his parents, “Barbara” and “Ron.” But the reality has turned out to be much more complicated. Barbara is kind in her own way, but she has incredibly firm ideas about how ...

Distance and red flags

Dear Annie: My younger sister and I used to be incredibly close. We talked every day, shared everything and supported each other through some of the hardest times in our lives, including the loss of our mom. But over the past two years, she has pulled away, and I feel like I do not even know her anymore. It started when she began dating her current boyfriend. At first, I was happy for her. He seemed charming and attentive. But over time, I noticed some red flags. He constantly checks her phone, criticizes her family in subtle ways and seems to isolate her from her old friends. Now, she ...

Protect your melon while biking

June is here and it’s a great time for everyone to get their bike out and enjoy the beautiful weather in Minnesota this time of year. It’s also a great time to talk about this month’s SEE.SAFE.SMART. safety campaign message, which is “Protect your melon.” When heading out on your bicycle, it’s important to ride safely, and just as important to protect your head by wearing a bike helmet. Every year, we still see too many people riding in New Ulm without a helmet. No matter what your age or skill level on a bike, that’s a risky move. According to the Bicycle Alliance of ...

Attending a 50-year reunion

I walked into the room and was struck by the preponderance of graying hair and balding heads. Who were these old people? And what were they doing at my high school class reunion? It was difficult to comprehend that it’s been half a century since my classmates and I walked across the stage in our high school’s gymnasium wearing those goofy hats and our goofy grins. Perhaps no one was happier with my graduation than our school administrators. This was especially true for our principal, Mr. Grebner. I spent so much time in his office that my name was stenciled on one of its ...

Craziness fit for a king

At the end of 2024, Congress passed a “Continuing Resolution” to fund the government. This was back when Congress still had a heartbeat. The one thing both parties agreed on was that farmers would get $21 billion. I’m all for free money. So, I looked forward to my tiny piece of the pie. Then came Inauguration Day. Elon Musk was suddenly the most powerful person in our country. He was given free rein to cut agencies and programs that both parties had built up over decades. He did this with the subtlety of a herd of bulls in a China shop and all the thoughtfulness. DOGE was ...