Dreams Don't Have Deadlines 꿈에는 마감기한이 없어요

Dear Annie: From the time I was in second grade, I knew I wanted to be a writer. But everyone around me insisted it was a terrible idea. So, I chose the "safe" path and became a teacher, spending two years in a high school English classroom before transitioning to a role as a school librarian. I also married a man I believed was the love of my life -- someone who shared my writing ambitions. But shortly after we wed, he made it clear: There would be only one writer in our family, and it wouldn't

Should I Stop Confiding in a Friend Who Dismisses My Problems? 제 문제들을 대수롭지 않게 여기는 친구에게 비밀을 털어놓는 걸 그만둬야 할까요?

Dear Annie: I was out having lunch with a friend I've known for many years. We met when our children were babies; they are grown adults now. We have only been meeting up once a week for lunch since April 2024, as we both have more time now that I have retired and she works part time. The thing is, I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment. I got a new puppy in October 2024. I also have been suffering anxiety, exhaustion and feeling stressed, so I'm not really in a positive frame of mind. I was

Struggling With Screen Time 스크린타임 문제로 힘들어요

Dear Annie: I never thought I had a screen time problem until my daughter called me out. The other night, we were sitting on the couch together, and she was excitedly telling me about her day. Without thinking, I picked up my phone to check a notification. She stopped mid-sentence and sighed, "Never mind, you're not even listening." That hit me hard. I realize now that screens are pulling me away from the things that matter most. I scroll through social media when I should be sleeping, leaving m

Keeping it professional 일적인 관계 유지

Dear Annie: About a year and a half ago, my husband's uncle helped us hire a cleaning lady. My husband and I both work, so this cleaning lady comes one Saturday a month because that's our shared day off. We pay her good money, and she does a pretty good job. The only problem I have is that she asks very personal questions. My husband and I are usually very quiet around her. We always offer her something to drink when she arrives. She eventually asks us very personal questions, and we always answ

Is Unsolicited Parenting Advice Ever OK? 청한적 없는 육아 조언 해도 될 때가 있을까요?

Dear Annie: I believe it's a bad idea for people to share their unsolicited opinions on other people's parenting, especially not someone like me, who is young, single, childless and barely knows what to do with my own life. Still, I can't help but worry about my brother's lifestyle. His house is a mess, and not just a "child lives here" kind of messy, but the kind where the dining room is never used to dine in because the chairs and table are always occupied with things. His 4-year-old daughter

Managing Money With Mother-in-Law 시어머니와 돈 관리하기

Dear Annie: My mother-in-law recently moved in with us after a very (thankfully) minor stroke. She has NO savings, and up until that point she was working sporadically just to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly. If I may backtrack back to the no savings ... For the past 30 years, she has literally laid in bed and watched TV all day after her husband left her. She would occasionally pick up a job but always lose it within a few months. She eventually moved in with her mother, who flo

Asking Husband for Financial Transparency 남편에게 경제적인 투명성을 요구하기

Dear Annie: I've been married for over 20 years, and my husband has always handled our finances. I trusted him to take care of everything, but recently, I've started to feel uneasy. When I ask about our savings, bills or retirement plans, he either brushes me off or gives vague answers. I don't know if he's hiding something or if he just doesn't think I need to know. I don't want to accuse him of anything, but I also don't want to be in the dark about our financial situation. What if something h

Reconnecting With Son After Years of Distance 수년간 멀리 지냈던 아들과 다시 연을 이어가기

Dear Annie: I'm a 73-year-old widow, and I lost my husband in 2018. I had two grown sons; one passed away last October, and the other no longer speaks to me. He believes I abandoned him, though we were never very close. In 2012, he convinced me to move into a home he purchased, saying it would be best for my husband and me. Later, he claimed the mortgage required him to live there, too. Our relationship was strained; he barely acknowledged us unless he needed help with his son, my only grandchil

Comfort Versus Chemistry 편안함 VS 끌림

Dear Annie: I really need help. I'm a 28-year-old woman living in New York City. For the past three years, I've been in a committed relationship with my boyfriend, "Charles." He's 31, works in tech and is super ambitious. We met in college, and while we've always gotten along well, I've started to notice some major differences between us as we've gotten older. To give you some context, I'm someone who craves emotional connection. I love having deep conversations, spending quality time together a

Blended Family 두 가정을 합치기

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been struggling with marital problems ever since he proposed. Before that, we got along well, but things took a turn for the worse after the engagement. His ex-wife is constantly causing drama, and whenever I try to stand up for myself, the situation gets twisted, and I'm the one blamed. My husband usually ends up upset with me instead of addressing the real issue. The ex has crossed major boundaries. For example, she joined the same exercise classes I attended

Struggling with Disrespectful Patients 무례한 환자들 때문에 힘들어요

Dear Annie: Last week, I was caring for a patient named "Mr. Thompson," who had come in with severe back pain. After completing my initial assessment, his daughter, "Sally," arrived and immediately demanded that I give her father "the strongest pain meds you've got." I explained that we had protocols to follow and that the doctor would need to approve any narcotics. She became furious, yelling, "What's wrong with you? Can't you see he's suffering? Just give him something!" I calmly assured her t

Sister's Wedding Steals Bonding Time 결혼준비에 빼앗기는 함께 할 시간

Dear Annie: My sister, "Laura," and I have always been close, but ever since she got engaged, there's been a bit of a distance. She's constantly busy with wedding planning, and when we do talk, all she wants to discuss is flowers, seating charts or her bachelorette party. I'm happy for her, but at a certain point it feels like she has forgotten that I have problems and things to discuss, too. The world doesn't revolve around her wedding! The final straw came last week when I asked if we were sti

Overlooked at Stepson's Wedding 의붓아들의 결혼식에서 받은 홀대

Dear Annie: I recently attended my stepson's wedding. My husband and his ex-wife were announced as mother and father of the groom as they entered the wedding reception together. His ex thought nothing of taking my husband's arm as they entered. Meanwhile, I'm sitting at our table by myself as this is happening. My husband and I have been married for 15 years, so I had thought we would enter the wedding reception and be introduced as the father of the groom and his wife. What is the correct proto

No rush 서두르지 마세요

Dear Annie: I've struggled with romance for most of my life. I'm 27 and find myself repeatedly dealing with unrequited crushes. It's embarrassing because I feel like I shouldn't be struggling with something so trivial at my age. Crushes seem more fitting for kids, not for an adult woman with a good job and her life seemingly together. Right now, I have strong feelings for a co-worker, which isn't new for me but feels more intense this time. I'm practically intoxicated by these emotions, and it's

Playing It Safe or Living the Dream 안전한 길로 갈지 아니면 꿈을 좇을지

Dear Annie: My name is Jess, and I've always prided myself on being the "steady one." I have a good job as a marketing manager, a wonderful husband named "Fred," and a life that feels stable and predictable. On paper, everything looks perfect. But lately, I can't shake this persistent, nagging feeling that something is missing. Growing up, my parents struggled financially, so I learned early on to choose security above all else. I picked a practical career over pursuing my dream of becoming a tr