Advice - The Washington Post

(Illustration by Nick Galifianakis for The Washington Post)

September 12

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Latest Advice

Carolyn Hax: Husband has reshaped his social life around a close female friend

By Carolyn Hax4 hours ago

Asking Eric: My partner won’t say why he is suddenly estranged from his family

By R. Eric Thomas4 hours ago

Miss Manners: Friend wants to share too much with servers

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin4 hours ago

How to tell depressed husband no to a second baby. Hax readers give advice.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati13 hours ago

How do I help my kids get over their fear of dogs?

By Meghan Leahy22 hours ago

Miss Manners: Parent’s emails to school district are ignored

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinYesterday

Carolyn Hax: In-law snooped in confidential files. Spouse has ‘no response.’

By Carolyn HaxYesterday

Asking Eric: Husband says the wrong thing after sex

By R. Eric ThomasYesterday

The best Carolyn Hax columns about grandparents

By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati2 days ago

Asking Eric: New mom feels guilty about very late thank you notes

By R. Eric Thomas2 days ago

Miss Manners: I was invited to a wedding shower but not the actual wedding

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin2 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Dying father begs daughter to reconcile with her abusive twin

By Carolyn Hax2 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Is sister’s therapist ripping her off in treatment ‘forever’?

By Carolyn Hax3 days ago

Asking Eric: Grandson’s name brings up grief for grandparent

By R. Eric Thomas3 days ago

Miss Manners: Cousin invites me to dinner and I end up paying

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin3 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Panicky parents call daily to check on 24-year-old in New York

By Carolyn Hax4 days ago

Asking Eric: Can I cut off my adult foster kid?

By R. Eric Thomas4 days ago

Miss Manners: Rude people keep asking about my walker

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin5 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Boyfriend equates taking a fellowship with ‘running away’ from him

By Carolyn Hax5 days ago

Asking Eric: Friend’s treatment of ailing cat is hard to take

By R. Eric Thomas5 days ago

Featured Writers

Carolyn Hax

Carolyn Hax writes a daily advice column for The Washington Post and has a weekly live online discussion.

Ask Carolyn a question

Sahaj Kaur Kohli

Sahaj Kaur Kohli is a therapist and the creator of Brown Girl Therapy.

Ask Sahaj a question

Elaine Welteroth

Elaine Welteroth writes the Ask Elaine advice column for The Washington Post.

Ask Elaine a question

Karla L. Miller

Karla L. Miller offers weekly advice on workplace dramas and traumas.

Ask Karla a question

Need advice? Join columnist Carolyn Hax’s weekly chat (Sept. 20 | 12 p.m. ET)

Advice columnist Carolyn Hax answers your questions about the strange train we call life.

Friday, September 20, at 12 p.m. EDT

More live chats

(Illustration by Nick Galifianakis for The Washington Post)

How to tell depressed husband no to a second baby. Hax readers give advice.

His depression and anxiety spiked with the birth of their child. How does the letter writer tell him no to any more kids?

September 11

Carolyn Hax: In-law snooped in confidential files. Spouse has ‘no response.’

September 11

Carolyn Hax: Dying father begs daughter to reconcile with her abusive twin

September 10

Carolyn Hax: Is sister’s therapist ripping her off in treatment ‘forever’?

September 9

Carolyn Hax: Panicky parents call daily to check on 24-year-old in New York

September 8

Carolyn Hax archives

The Best of Carolyn Hax

Recent Carolyn Hax Live Chats

Carolyn Hax chat: My 17-year-old is dating a 14-year-old. Her parents don’t approve.

September 6

Carolyn Hax chat: Relative polices what everyone eats at family gatherings

August 30

Carolyn Hax chat: Jealous mom fantasized about son’s new wife dying

August 23

Carolyn Hax chat: Should I let my bullying sister babysit my son?

August 2

More Carolyn Hax chats

NewsletterFRIDAYS

Carolyn Hax’s live Q&A: Sign up to get an email alert when Carolyn Hax’s weekly advice Q&A begins each Friday.

Asking Eric: My partner won’t say why he is suddenly estranged from his family

He suddenly stopped talking to his mom and sister and won’t talk to his partner about why.

September 12

Asking Eric: Husband says the wrong thing after sex

September 11

Asking Eric: New mom feels guilty about very late thank you notes

September 10

Asking Eric: Grandson’s name brings up grief for grandparent

September 9

Asking Eric archive

Miss Manners: Friend wants to share too much with servers

A friend likes to involve service people in the conversation he’s having with the letter writer.

September 12

Miss Manners: Parent’s emails to school district are ignored

September 11

Miss Manners: I was invited to a wedding shower but not the actual wedding

September 10

Miss Manners: Cousin invites me to dinner and I end up paying

September 9

Miss Manners archive

Ask Sahaj: My husband gets frustrated when I try to help care for his mom

Is this letter writer making things worse by trying to help their husband care for his mom?

September 5

Ask Sahaj: My dad says my brother gets the family estate because of ‘tradition’

August 29

Ask Sahaj: If trolls think Harris is a ‘DEI hire,’ what do people think of me?

August 22

Ask Sahaj: I had big expectations for my birthday. My boyfriend let me down.

August 15

Ask Sahaj archives

Ask Elaine: Is it a bad idea to interview for a new job in my third trimester?

How does she navigate interviewing for a new job while she’s in the third trimester of her pregnancy?

August 27

Ask Elaine: I’m too ashamed to face a friend after our argument

July 30

Ask Elaine: My daughter-in-law keeps asking me about my son’s flaws

June 25

Ask Elaine: My mother keeps dumping boxes of unwanted gifts on me

May 28

Ask Elaine archives

More Parenting Advice

(Illustration by María Alconada Brooks/The Washington Post; iStock)

How do I get my 14-year-old daughter to open up to me about her love life?

A parent looks for ways to encourage their 14-year-old to open up more about her struggles.

July 24

Other parents get upset with how my 11-year-old interacts with their kids

July 17

How do we start having family meetings with our 8-year-old?

July 10

How do I get my husband to understand our baby isn’t ‘crying for attention’?

July 3

Parenting advice archive

More Work Advice

(iStock)

Work Advice: Office ‘conversation hogs’ talk back

In response to a recent column on overtalkers at work, readers offer observations and solutions from their own workplaces.

September 5

Work Advice: How to handle a coworker who hijacks conversations

August 29

Work Advice: Defending your performance without being ‘defensive’

August 22

Work Advice: Can I opt out of discussing religious podcasts at work?

August 15

Work advice archive

Carolyn Hax: Nervous driver wants to stop chauffeuring critical mother-in-law

By Carolyn HaxFriday, September 6

Asking Eric: Sister’s ex doesn’t know she’s coming back to town

By R. Eric ThomasFriday, September 6

Miss Manners: Great friends don’t always make great hosts

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinFriday, September 6

Telling depressed husband no to a second baby. Give advice to this Hax question.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben KelatiThursday, September 5

Ask Sahaj: My husband gets frustrated when I try to help care for his mom

By Sahaj Kaur KohliThursday, September 5

Work Advice: Office ‘conversation hogs’ talk back

By Karla L. MillerThursday, September 5

Carolyn Hax: How does divorced parent adjust to having less time with son?

By Carolyn HaxThursday, September 5

Miss Manners: No need to inquire about house rules at the door

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinThursday, September 5

Asking Eric: Father-in-law’s partner makes visits unbearable

By R. Eric ThomasThursday, September 5

Stay-at-home dad does chores only for kid, not wife. Hax readers give advice.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben KelatiWednesday, September 4

We’re scared our screen-addicted teen is a pathological liar

By Meghan LeahyWednesday, September 4

Miss Manners: People are scared of my large dog

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinWednesday, September 4

Asking Eric: Our 11-year-old nephew is a bully. His parents don’t care.

By R. Eric ThomasWednesday, September 4

Carolyn Hax: Imbalance in visits with in-laws vs. parents starts to chafe

By Carolyn HaxWednesday, September 4

Asking Eric: I’m nervous about attending my estranged son’s wedding

By R. Eric ThomasTuesday, September 3

Carolyn Hax: Wife ‘ticks every box,’ but newlywed wants out of their marriage

By Carolyn HaxTuesday, September 3

Miss Manners: How to respond when asked if I breastfeed my kids?

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinTuesday, September 3

Carolyn Hax: Husband declares daughter, 15, will ‘always be an underachiever’

By Carolyn HaxMonday, September 2

Asking Eric: My husband doesn’t like my mom. What do I do?

By R. Eric ThomasMonday, September 2

Miss Manners: Neighbor’s late son’s car is in my parking spot

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinMonday, September 2

Carolyn Hax: A 26-year-old feels ripped apart by his parents’ messy divorce

By Carolyn HaxSunday, September 1

Asking Eric: My ex-friend’s dead cat is buried in my yard. Do I return it?

By R. Eric ThomasSunday, September 1

Miss Manners: When passengers place their feet on the car dashboard

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinSaturday, August 31

Carolyn Hax: Moving for new job and life means leaving 81-year-old mom behind

By Carolyn HaxSaturday, August 31