Dear Eric: When my mother or brother write to me, they address the letters to Mrs. Green. I have not been Mrs. Green at home for more than 20 years and was always Ms. Green at work. I am not Mrs. Green. I am Ms. Green. Mostly it doesn’t bother me, I think that’s just them. And I don’t know how to raise it with them without opening old wounds. Do I continue to suck it up or do I say something. If so, what?
Dear Eric: Three years ago, I met a woman, Margaret, and we became best friends very rapidly. Last year, during a tough year, I began to feel that some of Margaret’s behavior was that of someone who was using me, not someone who actually cared about me
Dear Eric: A few years ago, I sold my extra car as I was retiring in good financial shape and simplifying my expenses. Having an extra EZ Pass toll device, I gifted it to my father and his third wife, my stepmother.
Dear Eric: Our HR department defines annual reviews as confidential spaces where free expression is encouraged. My supervisor, however, breached that trust. My complaint to HR yielded a commendation for a superior work ethic, which I found patronizing. My supervisor’s tactics were ignored. As my department is no longer the collegial, supportive atmosphere it once was, I am considering resigning and sharing the reasons with our managing board.
Dear Eric: My mother has been a widow for quite a few years now. Her days consist of watching TV. We took her on vacation with us once, but she wanted to just stay in the hotel and watch TV.
Dear Eric: It seems my wife is playing superstar, and I sweep the stage.
Dear Eric: Fred talks nonstop about his cats; on the rare occasion we go out, he’s constantly checking his security cameras to see what the cats are doing.
Dear Eric: My children are very close, they do almost everything together with their spouses. My husband can’t seem to get why my children do a lot together and always invite us to come along and want to spend so much time with us. He says he’s glad his children aren’t like that.
Dear Eric: We do well financially and could easily afford a weekly visit from a housekeeper, and I have begged my husband to allow us to hire one, but his culture also shuns “strangers” entering the house for security reasons, even if it were a trusted worker.
Dear Eric: My son and his husband have been married for 14 years. When they first visited, we did not want to make a great show of it or tell the greater family all at the same time. We were fearful of hurtful gossip/statements. My son and then-boyfriend took great offense at this and stopped contact with us for a while.