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Dear Annie: Embracing carpe diem

Dear Annie: I have been with “Garrett” for over four years now. I have a son who is 9, and we share a daughter, 3. I was a single mom for four years before I met Garrett, so I did everything on my own. Garrett is always willing to make my lunch for work, clean after I get home from work, do laundry, etc. so I can relax. My problem is I tend to say no. I’ll do it myself, and then I become overwhelmed trying to do everything. I know I’m being resistant, but I feel as a mom, it’s my sole responsibility to do so. How do I loosen up and let him help me out more without feeling ...

‘Childhood Interrupted’: What enslaved children teach us about America today

An elementary school in Louisville, Kentucky, sits on land that was once the Farmington hemp plantation. That fact gutted me as I stood before “Childhood Interrupted,” an art installation depicting enslaved children on the lawn of the historic home. My son attends this elementary school which is now embedded in a neighborhood just one long driveway away from the truth of its plantation past. He learns, thrives and feels like he belongs in a space where enslaved children were once forced to work — enslaved children who would have certainly preferred my son’s experience of this ...

Dear Annie: Career crises and workplace anxieties

Dear Annie: I’m feeling torn between pursuing my dream and maintaining my financial stability. I have a job as an accountant making six figures, but it’s boring work — so boring that I dread getting out of bed every morning. The days go by slowly, and I find myself living for the weekend. On the other hand, I’ve had a passion for photography since I was a kid. Recently, I’ve started to do some freelance work on the side, just for fun, but the money isn’t great because I don’t have a lot of time to devote to it. I understand the importance of financial security, but I ...

Why fatherhood matters more than ever before

Long gone are the days of the distant dad. According to some estimates, the average time dads spend caring for their kids each day has quadrupled over the past 50 years. Their attitudes about parenting are also changing. Today, men are about as likely as mothers to say parenting is a key source of meaning and a central priority in their lives. Roughly 85% of fathers identify parenthood as one of the most important aspects of their identity. As a parenting researcher who focuses on fathers, I’m pleased to see that dads are so invested in their kids. It correlates with better ...

Flustered by funeral flowers

Dear Annie: I’ve been friends with “Jessie” for several years, but lately, I’ve been feeling like the friendship is one-sided. I’m always the one reaching out, making plans and putting in the effort. Jessie has been responding to my texts with one-word answers, if at all. I value our friendship a lot, but I’m starting to question whether she feels the same way. How can I address this issue without seeming needy? Should I confront her or let it go and just hope it changes back to what it was like before? Any guidance would be appreciated. — Friendship on Uneven ...

Parkinson’s patient gets mixed advice on surgery for cancer

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband, who is 78 and about 100 pounds overweight, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in July 2022. In November 2025, he was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic cancer. He’s currently getting chemo treatments that started in early January of this year. He has two options — get surgery or get radiation treatments. His pancreatic surgeon seems to be discouraging the surgery, saying that he could end up in a nursing home for the rest of his life. We saw his Parkinson’s doctor yesterday, and he told us that he didn’t think the surgery would be a problem. ...