DEAR HARRIETTE: I was really looking forward to seeing my brother and his family for the holidays, but I just learned that they decided not to visit this year. It turns out that my brother and his wif... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have two children in elementary school. Once again, there has been a recent shooting at a school. These things make huge news stories, as they should, but as a result, my children kn... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I stopped giving holiday gifts years ago. I go to visit friends and family throughout the season, but I have no children and stopped thinking it was essential to dole out money for gif... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I got into a big argument yesterday, and today he acts like nothing happened. I am still fuming. He did not apologize, nor did I. We just yelled out our points and then ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm feeling the burden of the recent passing of my grandmother. My family is pulling me in every direction to help them, and I need to take a minute to gather my thoughts. How do I fin... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am 41-year-old man, and I am stressing out because I have to take "the test" to see if I have prostate cancer. I heard it is uncomfortable because of the process to find the prostate... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a girlfriend who is separated from her husband, and she would like to have some male company during the holiday season. I believe she should reconcile her relationship with her ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My relationship with my teenage niece has deteriorated to the point where we are not talking to each other. She has a boyfriend, and I think that is the reason of the decline in our re... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I always feel rushed, and as a result, I feel like I'm always forgetting something. I have two jobs because one wasn't enough to pay my bills. I work about 15 hours a day, six days a w... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have never been one to buy a lot of presents for the holiday season. I like to spend time with my friends and family, but I don't believe in going broke in order to give somebody som... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just lost a lot of weight and want to get rid of clothes that don't fit anymore. I have a friend who is about the size I used to be. I have a lot of great suits and dresses and diffe... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: What is the proper length of time for a best friend to begin seeing her best friend's ex? Although I broke off the relationship primarily because of his verbal and emotional abuse, am ... more

DEAR READERS: By now, we all know that legendary hero Nelson Mandela has passed, at age 95. Mandela served his time on the planet fiercely, bearing a dignity that deserves celebration and personal ref... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: What do you do when you get a gift that you know was a re-gift -- and it does not work? My boss gave me a coffee pot, and when I plugged it in, it wouldn't work. The box said that the ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just learned that a woman I used to work with is running one of my favorite cosmetics companies. That is really big news, and part of me wants to congratulate her. But a bigger part ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: It has been two years since my mother passed away, and my family is still having a lot of difficulty dealing with her loss. At holiday time it gets worse because we remember all the th... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am really upset with my job. I have seniority, and I am single. I just learned that a woman who is my junior was given a lengthy Christmas vacation when I was not granted my vacation... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just reconnected with a childhood friend whose family took in my sister and me when we were little. We hadn't seen each other for more than 40 years. It was a wonderful reunion, exce... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Whenever my children are at home during the weekends, they don't think they need to bathe. My kids are teenagers, and my son is an athlete. Translation: They all need to bathe, or else... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My brother is 33 years old, and he is now living with my parents and me. I am 25 years old. This is his first time living in the United States -- we are from the Caribbean. He has been... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am so tired of being broke that sometimes I pretend that I am not. I have been on-again, off-again with work for more than a year now. So when I do come into a few dollars, I really ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: What is the best way to handle it if asked to remove your shoes when entering someone's residence and you are uncomfortable (or unprepared) to bare your feet? This happened to me the o... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been dating someone for a month, and we have a great connection and communication. He seems to be very comfortable sharing and being vulnerable with me; however, he seems to hav... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I had an uncomfortable conversation with my 9-year-old daughter the other day. We were talking about intimacy, about hugging and touching. We were hugging each other and then clarified... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My cousin called to say she was coming to town for the weekend and asked if she could stay with me. I live in the Big Apple, so I understand that it is expensive to stay here. Plus, sh... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend of 25 years has poor grammar and speaking skills. Is it ever appropriate to correct her in a way that sounds caring instead of critical? She just got a new job, and I'm afrai... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who yells whenever she talks to me. No matter what the conversation, she is virtually screaming at me. It can be embarrassing, especially when she is talking about sens... more

DEAR READERS: Happy Thanksgiving! This is my favorite time of year. It is a time when families get together and pause from their daily schedules. We eat together. We share chores. Sure, we may also ha... more