I was thrilled when two of my closest friends, Lisa and Shelley, agreed to be in my wedding party. Everything seemed perfect until three months later when Lisa, citing financial constraints, backed out. I was disappointed but understood; the $100 dress and a few expenses seemed reasonable. Both Lisa and her boyfriend have stable jobs … Read more
A year ago, I started family therapy with my dad and stepmom. Our therapist gave each of us a journal to record our thoughts and feelings each week, with the option to share them in therapy. I’ve chosen not to share what I write with my dad and stepmom, though I discuss it in individual … Read more
In 2010, I (35F) was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. My doctor advised me to avoid red meat to help manage inflammation, and over time, I decided to cut out meat entirely. This change has helped my health, so I’ve stuck with it. I’m not bothered if others eat meat around me, and I don’t push … Read more
My husband and I recently got married. A week before our wedding, Jack and Hannah, who had eloped, asked if they could take wedding photos during our ceremony and reception. They wanted pictures to share with their future kids and decorate their home. I said they could take photos, but only before or after our … Read more
I’m a 35-year-old woman who lost my father when I was 5. Shortly after, my mother married a man named John, who had two teenage sons. John didn’t want to raise a daughter, so my mother left me with my aunt and took my brother (8 at the time) to live with her and John. … Read more
I’m a 32-year-old man dating my 27-year-old girlfriend, Jenny, for almost a year. Jenny is an only child from an Asian family, while I’m mixed and have a younger sister, Anna, who is 21. Despite the age gap, Anna and I are very close because I often took care of her while our parents … Read more
During a recent family trip after his father’s death, a father faced a dilemma when his daughter, Shiloh, had to sleep on the floor while her stepsisters had beds in their hotel room. Seeing this, he quickly booked a separate hotel room for Shiloh to ensure she had a comfortable place to sleep. This decision … Read more
A person is wondering if they are wrong for wanting to postpone their wedding until their fiancé’s braces are removed. The fiancé, 25, was initially hesitant about getting braces due to fear of teasing but agreed to them for dental health reasons. The person now wants to delay the wedding because they think the braces … Read more
I (18F) have a twin sister (18F) who’s been with her boyfriend since freshman year. He’s also 18, from a wealthy family, and had a job lined up right after graduation. Even though they were responsible, my sister got pregnant unexpectedly. They always used protection, so it was a surprise. She finished her senior year … Read more
I’ve been with a Spanish company for about 7-8 years and have known the CTO for around 10 years. He’s a fantastic guy who gets things done. Our work-from-home (WFH) policy was already pretty flexible before 2020, as long as we met deadlines, we had the freedom to work remotely. When the pandemic hit, transitioning to … Read more