Dear Mrs. Hughes, I am an 82-year-old woman who lives in assisted living. My house is unique in that there are only five residents and we are all women. We get a lot of individual attention, and it feels more like a home. It is actually in a house in a neighborhood. Previously, I lived […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, I am a divorced, childless woman in my sixties. My immediate family is very small. I am the only child of my parent’s marriage and was born when they both were 40. My father retired when I was around eight, so I spent most of my time around them and felt comfortable […]
Hello, I am a middle-aged man who was diagnosed several years ago with Asperger’s Syndrome. Ever since, I have made great strides to improve how I communicate with and understand the thoughts and feelings of others. But one area that still eludes improvement is the management of my emotions. I feel things deeply, and anything […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, One of my oldest and best friends was diagnosed with schizophrenia about a year ago. We have known each other since we were two and been through so much together: our parents’ divorces, the ups and downs of middle school and high school, my father’s suicide when we were 15, friends marrying […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, One year ago, I broke up with my boyfriend of 5 years and moved across the country from California to New York City. I have experienced a tremendous amount of growth – challenges, moments of true bliss, and everything in between in the time since. I feel like a different man than […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, Is it ever appropriate to lie? If so, how do you know where the line begins and ends? I was raised to value honesty. I ask myself if clinging to this ideal is noble or just downright stupid? I see everyone around me lying to some extent to get ahead both personally […]
Dear Readers, I have been asked to write an opinion piece about my reaction to the terrorist attack in Boulder that took place on Sunday, June 1, 2025. I have been paralyzed to do so. Knowing I had to write this morning, I didn’t sleep all night. This morning I canceled my plans but instead […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, What is the proper etiquette for meeting new neighbors? When I was young and we moved, we were greeted by a whole line of people bringing us cakes and pies and cookies and introducing themselves to us. It was such a nice way to meet people in the neighborhood. It made us […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, How do I tell my parents that I don’t want them to stay with us when they visit? They will be so insulted! My partner and I have decided that it’s just too stressful to have them staying here. We have two small children and a newborn. We are up all night. […]
[Letters may be lightly edited for clarity and printability. –ed] Dear Mrs. Hughes, I am what is called modern orthodox. I attend something called a minyan where I pray with others every day. Recently, I met an old childhood friend there who I haven’t seen in over a decade. We started talking and I was […]
Dear Readers, Thank you to all of you who have sent in such thoughtful questions. I have enjoyed responding to each one. We did not get a letter this week, but that’s ok. It takes a while for a new column to get established, especially an advice column that depends upon community participation. In order […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, I have been dating now for a few years and am noticing a strange phenomenon. I might really like someone and may even think I’m on the verge of falling in love after a few months, and then one day I wake up and poof! The feeling’s gone. My friends say I […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, My widowed mother is getting older and frailer. For instance, she is at the point where it is often difficult to get out of a chair. She lives out in the country far enough that home care assistance isn’t available. At some point, it is likely we will have to have a […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, My old friend who I see about twice a year has religious and political views I find offensive. We both use the phrase “We’d better not go there” when conversation veers in that direction. This works well when we are together, however I still find myself angry and appalled when I reflect […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, I would like to write you about an issue that has been worrying me lately. I had the same job for 33 years as a teacher in an elementary school. I loved everything about my job, but as I approached retirement age, I began to get excited about retiring. So much so […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, Please help me. I don’t know how I got here. One minute I had a good life with lots of friends and at least a functioning marriage. I was the coach of my kid’s soccer team and a respected member of my community. Now I am the town pariah. I had an […]
Dear Mrs. Hughes, I feel so sad. I don’t know what to do. I am 23 years old and have met a woman I really love. I can imagine spending my life with her, and we’ve been talking about the future together. The problem is that since being with her I realize how unhealthy and […]
