Advice - The Washington Post

(Illustration by Nick Galifianakis for The Washington Post)

September 18

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Latest Advice

Asking Eric: After 50 years, friend wants to be done with the group

By R. Eric Thomas17 minutes ago

Carolyn Hax: All the wives left her holiday feast to hang with husband’s ex-wife

By Carolyn Hax17 minutes ago

Miss Manners: Friend is bringing poodle to dinner and opera. Can we bow out?

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin17 minutes ago

Miss Manners: Do I have to donate to my friend’s charity?

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinYesterday

Carolyn Hax: Apologize to adult children for failing them ‘so completely’?

By Carolyn HaxYesterday

Asking Eric: An update from grandma who folded laundry ‘wrong’

By R. Eric ThomasYesterday

Asking Eric: My stepdaughter of 12 years ignores me and lies about it to her dad

By R. Eric Thomas2 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Will a friendly ex-spouse scare away future dates?

By Carolyn Hax2 days ago

Miss Manners: Is our friend group’s birthday tradition okay?

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin2 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Grandparent thinks 7-year-old is rude for refusing hugs

By Carolyn Hax3 days ago

Asking Eric: Spouse fears it’s too late to leave abusive husband

By R. Eric Thomas3 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Parents want to cut son’s cheating wife out of his inheritance

By Carolyn Hax4 days ago

Miss Manners: Laundry service gave me underwear that isn’t mine

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin4 days ago

Asking Eric: Husband keeps wife in the dark about their finances

By R. Eric Thomas4 days ago

What’s your favorite Carolyn Hax column about secrets?

By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati5 days ago

Miss Manners: How do I announce my pregnancy to my friends?

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin5 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Brother says new parent accepts ‘too much’ of their mom’s help

By Carolyn Hax5 days ago

How do I tell my kids I enjoy marijuana? Give advice to this Hax question.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati6 days ago

Ask Sahaj: How can I honor my late brother without making my family sad?

By Sahaj Kaur Kohli6 days ago

Work Advice: How to deal with the post-Labor Day blues

By Karla L. Miller6 days ago

Featured Writers

Carolyn Hax

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

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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.

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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)

Carolyn Hax: Apologize to adult children for failing them ‘so completely’?

A mom wonders if it would be “useful or merely self-serving” to tell her adult children she is sorry for her failure.

September 17

Carolyn Hax: Will a friendly ex-spouse scare away future dates?

September 16

Carolyn Hax: Grandparent thinks 7-year-old is rude for refusing hugs

September 15

Carolyn Hax: Parents want to cut son’s cheating wife out of his inheritance

September 14

What’s your favorite Carolyn Hax column about secrets?

September 13

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: After 50 years, friend wants to be done with the group

How does she tell her childhood friends she won’t be joining them on their annual trips anymore?

September 18

Asking Eric: An update from grandma who folded laundry ‘wrong’

September 17

Asking Eric: My stepdaughter of 12 years ignores me and lies about it to her dad

September 16

Asking Eric: Spouse fears it’s too late to leave abusive husband

September 15

Asking Eric archive

Miss Manners: Friend is bringing poodle to dinner and opera. Can we bow out?

She plans to bring her annoying poodle to dinner and the opera. Her friends want to bow out.

September 18

Miss Manners: Do I have to donate to my friend’s charity?

September 17

Miss Manners: Is our friend group’s birthday tradition okay?

September 16

Miss Manners: Laundry service gave me underwear that isn’t mine

September 14

Miss Manners archive

Ask Sahaj: How can I honor my late brother without making my family sad?

When the letter writer tries to celebrate their late brother, it makes their family so sad.

September 12

Ask Sahaj: My husband gets frustrated when I try to help 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 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: How to deal with the post-Labor Day blues

More workers are coming back into the office, but what’s behind those numbers?

September 12

Work Advice: Office ‘conversation hogs’ talk back

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 archive

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

By Carolyn HaxThursday, September 12

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

By R. Eric ThomasThursday, September 12

Miss Manners: Friend wants to share too much with servers

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinThursday, September 12

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

By Carolyn Hax and Haben KelatiWednesday, September 11

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

By Meghan LeahyWednesday, September 11

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

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinWednesday, September 11

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

By Carolyn HaxWednesday, September 11

Asking Eric: Husband says the wrong thing after sex

By R. Eric ThomasWednesday, September 11

The best Carolyn Hax columns about grandparents

By Carolyn Hax and Haben KelatiTuesday, September 10

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

By R. Eric ThomasTuesday, September 10

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

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinTuesday, September 10

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

By Carolyn HaxTuesday, September 10

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

By Carolyn HaxMonday, September 9

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

By R. Eric ThomasMonday, September 9

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

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinMonday, September 9

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

By Carolyn HaxSunday, September 8

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

By R. Eric ThomasSunday, September 8

Miss Manners: Rude people keep asking about my walker

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinSaturday, September 7

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

By Carolyn HaxSaturday, September 7

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

By R. Eric ThomasSaturday, September 7

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