Carolyn Hax
Columnist | Relationships
E-mail: tellme@washpost.com
Carolyn Hax is a 40-something repatriated New Englander with a liberal arts degree and a lot of opinions and that's about it, really, when you get right down to it. Oh, and the shoes. A lot of shoes. Her column, "Tell Me About It," appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
Recent content from Carolyn Hax
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Carolyn Hax: Older sis worried about teen drinker
Dear Carolyn: My younger sister, "Alexis," is a college sophomore, and in the last year or so has gotten very into drinking with her friends (she is underage). It started because she is in a small town and said there was "nothing else to do on the weekends." In the past when friends drank, she would tell them they were being stupid and irresponsible. She now thinks it is funny to see her friends acting drunk, and has told me about their exploits on occasion.
Nov 22, 2009 -
Beau's mom has given her a peek at future
Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend's mom recently sent him a book about tips for a successful marriage. Our first reaction was to have a good laugh about it; we're not ready for marriage yet, and neither of us has talked with our parents about it.
Nov 17, 2009 -
Carolyn Hax: Role of 'daddy' more important than title
Dear Carolyn: I share custody of my 3 1/2-year-old daughter with my ex-wife, who got remarried last year. Her new husband describes himself as a "nice guy," and is overtly hoping that somehow I fail as a father so he can be "daddy." The divorce was anything but amicable. While things have been relatively smooth for the past nine months, I still hear my daughter from time to time refer to him as "daddy." I reinforce she has only one daddy but this is really getting old.
Nov 15, 2009 -
Carolyn Hax: Little sister is left out
Dear Carolyn: As a mom of three girls, is it in my job description to try to ensure my daughters are close? My two oldest (10 and 8) are inseparable, which is great, but they have never had much interest in their 5-year-old sister. They have started asking whether I will take just the two of them on special outings. I don't know whether it's jealousy or they consider themselves too mature for her or what, but I have nightmares of raising two daughters who are best friends and one who feels like an outcast.
Nov 12, 2009 -
Woman told a tall tale about his height
Dear Carolyn: I recently started dating somebody new who is considerably taller than I (I'm a guy). It's not news to me that I'm short, and even before we met I'd advised her that it wasn't an issue for me if she was taller, and I hoped it wasn't an issue for her.
Nov 10, 2009 -
Carolyn Hax: Time to leave lying married man? Yes
Dear Carolyn: I'm involved with a married man, which (1) I didn't know until after we became involved, and (2) breaks one of my core values -- so even though I love his company (we're no longer physically involved), I hate that I'm in the middle of someone else's marriage.
Nov 8, 2009 -
Carolyn Hax: Try seeing rude sister-in-law from new angle
Dear Carolyn: I do not get along with my sister-in-law. She is nosy, rude and catty, and it is very difficult for me to be around her for more than a few minutes. However, it is important to my husband and me that we spend time with his brother and our nieces and nephews, and so we continue to be friendly and take whatever she dishes out (asking how much things cost, opening drawers in our home, eating our food without asking, asking personal questions about our relationship, gossiping about other family members, talking nonstop about herself, etc.).
Nov 3, 2009 -
Simple truths relieve kids' fears of death
Dear Carolyn: My husband and I had a discussion on mourning practices, in particular my mourning my sister, who has been dead for 12 years. He said that when we have children, he wouldn't want me taking them to her gravesite because he does not believe children should be exposed to mourning or a depressing situation. I think it's important for children to understand death at an early age. And I think it's OK for them to accompany me to the cemetery.
Oct 29, 2009 -
Roommate's 'live-in' beau is not welcome
Dear Carolyn: What is a nice way to tell a roommate that her on-again boyfriend can't live at our apartment? When she moved in, she said they had broken up, but now he's been over 99 percent of the nights she's lived with us. I definitely did not sign up for a nonpaying fourth roommate either way, but he isn't even friendly. I am absolutely awful at bringing up uncomfortable things like this and would like not to sound rude or alienate her, if possible. Is there a nice way to do something like this?
Oct 27, 2009 -
Carolyn Hax: Keep divorce civil, and son will survive
Dear Carolyn: My husband and I are on the brink of divorcing. We have a 4-year-old, and I'm sick with the thought of messing up his life with something he didn't ask for. Is there any hope for him to grow up into a well-adjusted adult with none of the "issues" from a divorce?
Oct 25, 2009
