DEAR HARRIETTE: I made mistake. I impulsively purchased a hamster with my friend; we were supposed to have "joint custody" of it. This hamster has been traveling back and forth from our apartments eve... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a college student about to go through sorority recruitment. There have been a few events where I can meet the members of Greek organizations. I have tried to attend these events a... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Last summer, I ended up working at a fast food chain while my other friends were at internships or high-paying nannying jobs. The entire summer was pretty embarrassing for me, because ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother was in her mid-to-late 40s when she had me. This age is a little older than some of my friends' mothers, while much older than others. When I was in school, it'd be a topic o... more

DEAR READERS: Merry Christmas! I want to take a moment to pause at this sacred time of year and offer my gratitude to all of you for your support and love this year and throughout the many years that ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: To protect our health after the World Health Organization classified bacon as carcinogenic as asbestos and cigarettes, my wife is dead set against buying any more bacon. I love bacon -... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I got the most baffling birthday party invitation I have ever received. My friend, in an effort to reclaim her youth, has decided to throw herself a 45th birthday -- at a strip club! I... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I do not like to bring social media into relationships because I feel like it is a bit childish. However, my girlfriend has recently done something that bothers me. On a Facebook post,... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Coming from a rainy city, I have always wondered how umbrella etiquette functions. I always carry a small personal umbrella with me, but I know that is not the case for everyone in Sea... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was ditched at a holiday party I was dragged to! My friend thought it'd be a great idea to take me to meet all of her friends ... and then she ditched me as soon as she saw all of he... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been in a group text for a few months now with my friends from college who are in different parts of the country. I used to think it was a fun way to keep checking in on each ot... more

Boyfriend's Food Etiquette Bugs Reader... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife's aunt is on the verge of passing away, and I need to know how to talk to my children about death. My children are 5 and 7 years old. I do not want to scare them, but I want th... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Recently, one of my co-workers was fired, and I'm finding it hard to keep going to work. He was my confidant, someone with whom I could complain about our supervisors, and a huge part ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My younger cousin confided something shocking to me. While I was explaining my various exercise equipment, she said that she knew what ankle weights are because her mom makes her run w... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend's family always surprises each other with the gifts they give each other for birthdays and holidays. This is a complete 180-degree switch from my family, who is very trans... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My building has a laundry room in the basement for all of the residents to use. The machines are free, so many people want to use the six we have. I was having a debate with my neighbo... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: At a dinner celebrating my mother's birthday, one of her friends announced her opinion on the current refugee situation. Our opinions are polar opposites, and my mom's friend, Carol, b... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was expecting a package for a while, and eventually got it delivered ... by my sheepish neighbor, who had opened it! What? I was not here when he dropped it off on my porch, but he l... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My step-sister has brought a different guy home for Christmas the past four years. I'm sure a new one will be coming again this year. My step-sister, Maggie, has gotten progressively m... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: This Christmas, I would like my girlfriend to celebrate the holiday with my family. I love my girlfriend, but I sometimes fear that she did not have as formal an upbringing as I did. M... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: When I was 4 years old, my mother took me to get my ears pierced. After my first ear was pierced, I began screaming and crying. I ran away and never got my second ear pierced. This was... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My roommate has a huge cold sore on her face. I don't know much about cold sores, but when I looked them up, I read that they are extremely contagious. We live in fairly close quarters... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I visited my friend's home today. We went out to eat with her family. My friend has a sister, Beth, who has Tourette's and mental disabilities. Beth's tics are frequent, and I noticed ... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I try to stay as fit as I can, and I go to the gym once a day. I never ask anyone to go with me, because I know my friends don't like to exercise and think I'm a health nut. Instead of... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: After a swim class, I went into the shower immediately and forgot my towel. I realized my forgetfulness too late, so I was stuck with either putting my chlorine-filled bathing suit bac... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I love attending dance performances. I have invited my sister to see one with me, and she said that she'd like to see me but that the dance would be boring. I suggested doing something... more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Though the warmer months are behind us, I still want to work on shedding a couple of pounds so I feel lighter. I do not have a lot of extra time on my hands, but I try to exercise freq... more