Parent doesn’t want son’s girlfriend on trip

Parent doesn’t want son’s girlfriend on trip

May 15, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: My family and I are gearing up for our annual family vacation. My oldest child is in a relationship and has been badgering me about wanting to bring his girlfriend. I would prefer not to bring her along on an intimate weeklong trip because I feel that her clothing can be rather revealing, and she doesn’t seem shy about PDA. I have two much younger children, and I don’t think they need to be exposed to that on their summer getaway. Besides, I don’t plan to pay for some sort of couples’ trip while the rest of us are trying to catch up and bond.

DO JUST ONE THING

DO JUST ONE THING

May 08, 2025

• If you’ve purchased a new washing machine, listen up: Don’t use DIY laundry detergent for your machine. While handmade detergents are a good all-natural alternative, they have a tendency to clog modern-day washing machines. As household appliances become more high-tech, untested detergents can cause internal havoc. Using a DIY detergent can also void the warranty of your machine. Instead, look for commercial brands that are highly concentrated and made with plant-based ingredients. Use your DIY detergents for handwashing purposes only.

Reader needs help conquering self-doubt

Reader needs help conquering self-doubt

May 08, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my best friends came to town. We’ve known each other since college and have seen each other through a lot of chapters.

Roommate’s workout routine interrupts sleep

Roommate’s workout routine interrupts sleep

May 07, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: My roommate works out at 5 a.m. every day, which means that his alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m., and it’s been affecting my sleep in a major way. The noise alone is enough to jolt me out of my sleep, and by the time I finally manage to fall back to sleep, it’s almost time for me to get up for work.

Out-of-town man’s personality shifts on visit

Out-of-town man’s personality shifts on visit

Apr 29, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: Earlier this year, I met someone at a friend’s birthday party. I thought he was handsome, and my friend ended up fixing us up. We live in different states, so we exchanged numbers and kept in touch. We talked often on the phone, and I felt comfortable with him.

Dad won’t stop smoking around grandchildren

Dad won’t stop smoking around grandchildren

Apr 26, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: My dad’s a heavy smoker and has been for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, he used to smoke inside the house constantly. I remember the smell being everywhere – in my clothes, in the walls, even in my toys. I developed some health issues that I believe were tied to all that secondhand smoke exposure, and it’s something I’ve carried with me into adulthood.

Elizabeth Ko, M.D.

Recovery of mastectomy can take a long time

Apr 26, 2025

Dear Doctors: My best friend has breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes, and she needs to have a double mastectomy. Can you please talk about how all of this can psychologically affect you? What can I do that will help her and not be a burden?

DO JUST ONE THING

DO JUST ONE THING

Apr 24, 2025

• If you dread ironing clothes, here’s a simple tip to speed up the process and help you save energy: Remove the fabric cover from your ironing board and cover it with a few sheets of aluminum foil. Then place the fabric cover on top of the foil. When you iron, the heat will be transferred to the aluminum foil and reflect to the surface, creating a dry, hot surface that doubles the efficiency and halves the ironing time. If you ever need to take the aluminum foil off, just toss it in the recycling bin.

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