Advice - The Washington Post

(Nick Galifianakis for The Washington Post)

January 22

Latest Advice

Carolyn Hax: Dad tells son that no ‘real man’ wants to go to a baby shower

By Carolyn Hax3 hours ago

Ask Amy: Grandson’s clothing can’t travel between divorced parents’ homes

By Amy Dickinson3 hours ago

Miss Manners: I was accused of being racist while thrift shopping

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin3 hours ago

Ask Amy: Retired priest struggles with Catholic critique

By Amy DickinsonYesterday

Carolyn Hax: The ‘forced togetherness’ of boyfriend’s family is exhausting

By Carolyn HaxYesterday

Carolyn Hax: Group wants to remove struggling friend’s social media crutch

By Carolyn Hax2 days ago

Ask Amy: Recent update inspires reader to leave abusive relationship

By Amy Dickinson2 days ago

Miss Manners: Swimmer at my pool is always coughing

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin2 days ago

Miss Manners: My boyfriend is mad my daughter didn’t thank him for a gift

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin3 days ago

Ask Amy: Should I tell my ex-boyfriend’s parents I’m pregnant with his baby?

By Amy Dickinson3 days ago

Carolyn Hax: How to gently decline rekindling attempts from former toxic friend?

By Carolyn Hax3 days ago

My dad is jealous of my father-in-law. Give advice to this Hax question.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati4 days ago

Ask Sahaj: I need closure after a close friend ghosted me

By Sahaj Kaur Kohli4 days ago

Work Advice: Qualified, experienced — yet somehow unhirable

By Karla L. Miller4 days ago

Carolyn Hax: Niece may not realize wedding plan is inconsiderate to older guests

By Carolyn Hax4 days ago

Ask Amy: Is it time to give up hope of reconciling with my wife?

By Amy Dickinson4 days ago

Miss Manners: Chatty airline passengers talk over seatmate

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin4 days ago

My college crush is back and I see him all the time. Hax readers give advice.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati5 days ago

My 3-year-old son just gets angrier when I try to calm his tantrums

By Meghan Leahy5 days ago

Miss Manners: Former employee is constantly asking for references

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina Martin5 days ago

Live Chats

Need advice? Join columnist Carolyn Hax’s weekly chat (Jan. 26 | 12 p.m. ET)

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

Friday, January 26, at 12 p.m. EST

How do I connect with my 7th grader nephew?

Meghan Leahy, a parenting coach, author, mother of three, takes your questions about the all encompassing job we call parenting.

Wednesday, January 17, at 11 a.m. EST

More live chats

Carolyn Hax: The ‘forced togetherness’ of boyfriend’s family is exhausting

After an exhausting holiday with the boyfriend’s tight-knit family, how does this letter writer approach him about opting out?

January 21

Carolyn Hax: Group wants to remove struggling friend’s social media crutch

January 20

Carolyn Hax: How to gently decline rekindling attempts from former toxic friend?

January 19

My dad is jealous of my father-in-law. Give advice to this Hax question.

January 18

Carolyn Hax: Niece may not realize wedding plan is inconsiderate to older guests

January 18

Carolyn Hax archives

The Best of Carolyn Hax

Recent Carolyn Hax Live Chats

Carolyn Hax chat: My friend clearly favors one child over the other

January 19

Carolyn Hax chat: My friend spiked my dinner with marijuana

January 5

Carolyn Hax chat: My friend is talking me out of a divorce, says to be ‘realistic’

December 15

Carolyn Hax chat: I feel content with my life. Why do I still feel envy?

December 1

More Carolyn Hax chats

Ask Amy: Grandson’s clothing can’t travel between divorced parents’ homes

Teen grandson has to keep separate clothes at his divorced parents’ houses — and isn’t allowed to bring clothes back and forth.

January 22

Ask Amy: Retired priest struggles with Catholic critique

January 21

Ask Amy: Recent update inspires reader to leave abusive relationship

January 20

Ask Amy: Should I tell my ex-boyfriend’s parents I’m pregnant with his baby?

January 19

Ask Amy archive

Miss Manners: I was accused of being racist while thrift shopping

How should she have reacted when a fellow shopper accused her of being racist?

January 22

Miss Manners: Swimmer at my pool is always coughing

January 20

Miss Manners: My boyfriend is mad my daughter didn’t thank him for a gift

January 19

Miss Manners: Chatty airline passengers talk over seatmate

January 18

Miss Manners archive

Ask Sahaj: I need closure after a close friend ghosted me

After a friend ghosted them, how does this letter writer reach out for closure?

January 18

Ask Sahaj: We both have spouses with Alzheimer’s. Is it too early to date?

January 11

Ask Sahaj: My sister married a difficult man. How do I support her?

January 4

Ask Sahaj: Sister-in-law excludes me from gatherings and invites my husband’s ex

December 28

Ask Sahaj archives

Ask Elaine: New mom loses the battle for mother’s attention to her sister

A new mom is frustrated by the lack of support she’s received from her mother -- because her mother is always helping her more “dominant” sister.

January 16

Ask Elaine: I’ve watched my granddaughter for four years. I want my life back.

January 2

Ask Elaine: How do I respond to people who say my only child needs a sibling?

December 19

Ask Elaine: I’m in my dream grad school program. I can’t stop doubting myself.

December 5

Ask Elaine archives

More Parenting Advice

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

My 3-year-old son just gets angrier when I try to calm his tantrums

No matter what this parent tries, their 3.5-year-old won’t calm down during tantrums.

January 17

What happens after your kid unexpectedly goes viral?

January 15

Should we tell our family and friends about our son’s autism diagnosis?

January 10

I keep spanking my defiant 6-year-old. I’m scared of myself.

January 3

Parenting advice archive

More Work Advice

(Ekaterina79/iStock)

Work Advice: Qualified, experienced — yet somehow unhirable

In “The Stigma Trap,” a researcher examines the forces that keep even successful, experienced workers trapped in long-term unemployment.

January 18

Work Advice: How a boss can learn to stop worrying and love hybrid work

Updated January 11

Work Advice: Can’t keep younger workers? Try offering what they value.

January 4

Work Advice: More standoffs over return-to-office mandates loom in 2024

December 28

Work advice archive

Carolyn Hax: If helping professionals won’t help 24/7, do they need new careers?

By Carolyn HaxWednesday, January 17

Ask Amy: I can’t be around my partner’s rude daughter anymore

By Amy DickinsonWednesday, January 17

Ask Elaine: New mom loses the battle for mother’s attention to her sister

By Elaine WelterothTuesday, January 16

Ask Amy: I’m buying a house with my mom. My sister wants to visit for months.

By Amy DickinsonTuesday, January 16

Carolyn Hax: What makes parents so annoying, even to their middle-aged children?

By Carolyn HaxTuesday, January 16

Miss Manners: I hate being called ‘dear’ by strangers

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinTuesday, January 16

What happens after your kid unexpectedly goes viral?

By Jared BilskiMonday, January 15

Carolyn Hax: Is it smart to move for a boyfriend who ‘doesn’t ask me not to’?

By Carolyn HaxMonday, January 15

Ask Amy: My son’s girlfriend’s snobby parents sent us a regift

By Amy DickinsonMonday, January 15

Miss Manners: Do guests always have to reciprocate invitations?

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinMonday, January 15

Ask Amy: My siblings refer to our late parents as if they’re still alive

By Amy DickinsonSunday, January 14

Carolyn Hax: Old friend is encroaching on her husband, yet jealousy feels wrong

By Carolyn HaxSunday, January 14

Ask Amy: Teen daughter purposely broke her phone to get a new one

By Amy DickinsonSaturday, January 13

Miss Manners: Professor always goes over class time and makes me late

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinSaturday, January 13

Carolyn Hax: Manipulative, lying ex begs for a meeting to apologize. Say yes?

By Carolyn HaxSaturday, January 13

Carolyn Hax live chat transcripts from 2023

By Carolyn HaxFriday, January 12

Carolyn Hax: Do they tell a recently engaged friend she can do so much better?

By Carolyn HaxFriday, January 12

Ask Amy: Grieving sister doesn’t welcome an addition to the family

By Amy DickinsonFriday, January 12

Miss Manners: I get compliments about my skin but I wear makeup

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinFriday, January 12

My college crush is back and I see him all the time. Give advice to this Hax question.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben KelatiThursday, January 11

Ask Sahaj: We both have spouses with Alzheimer’s. Is it too early to date?

By Sahaj Kaur KohliThursday, January 11

Work Advice: How a boss can learn to stop worrying and love hybrid work

By Karla L. MillerUpdated Thursday, January 11

Ask Amy: My husband won’t initiate sex ever since the #MeToo era

By Amy DickinsonThursday, January 11

Miss Manners: I don’t want to hear about your gross job

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinThursday, January 11

Carolyn Hax: When chatty mom calls daily, the choices are exhaustion or guilt

By Carolyn HaxThursday, January 11

My mom puts too much pressure on me to excel at school. Hax readers give advice.

By Carolyn Hax and Haben KelatiWednesday, January 10

Should we tell our family and friends about our son’s autism diagnosis?

By Meghan LeahyWednesday, January 10

Carolyn Hax: Who chooses what the grandkids eat when they visit grandparents?

By Carolyn HaxWednesday, January 10

Ask Amy: Update from new mom whose husband takes constant work trips

By Amy DickinsonWednesday, January 10

Miss Manners: I criticized cruises in front of a friend about to take one

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin and Jacobina MartinWednesday, January 10

Carolyn Hax: How do you tell your mom to stop one-upping you with your kid?

By Carolyn HaxTuesday, January 9

Ask Amy: My friend can’t stop giving me unsolicited advice

By Amy DickinsonTuesday, January 9