Column | Carolyn Hax: Boyfriend slow to move his belongings to make room for partner’s As they move in together, the letter writer assumes the boyfriend’s secondhand furniture will live in their basement.

As they move in together, the letter writer assumes the boyfriend’s secondhand furniture will live in their basement.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Parents at impasse on letting unwed adult kids room with partners Letter writer wants adult kids to want to visit, but husband isn’t okay with them sharing a room with their partners.

Letter writer wants adult kids to want to visit, but husband isn’t okay with them sharing a room with their partners.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Career-dazed college student wonders how people choose their jobs College student decided on time off this summer but feels pressured to take an internship and worries about falling behind.

College student decided on time off this summer but feels pressured to take an internship and worries about falling behind.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Forceful friend invites herself to all your plans Letter writer can’t mention any other plans without this friend inviting herself along.

Letter writer can’t mention any other plans without this friend inviting herself along.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Grandma tired of hearing the grandkids are ‘too busy’ She’s frustrated that her grandkids are so scheduled, she sees them only when her daughter needs a driver or babysitter.

She’s frustrated that her grandkids are so scheduled, she sees them only when her daughter needs a driver or babysitter.

Column | Carolyn Hax: ‘I don’t know how not to hate’ fiancé’s abusive mother Fiancé and his family enable his alcoholic mother, and it’s hard for this letter writer to watch.

Mommie-in-law-to-be Dearest. (Gift link) wapo.st/4cKElpJ

Column | Carolyn Hax: Expecting a girl this time, couple goes over the top celebrating Letter writer is bothered that wealthy relatives, for their third baby but first girl, are throwing themselves a baby shower.

Letter writer is bothered that wealthy relatives, for their third baby but first girl, are throwing themselves a baby shower.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Boyfriend moving in feels like skipping the fun part Stuck in a boring routine, the letter writer now suspects boyfriend moved in just to avoid getting engaged.

Stuck in a boring routine, the letter writer now suspects boyfriend moved in just to avoid getting engaged.

Column | Carolyn Hax: After divorce, second-guessing ability to make big decisions For the letter writer, the impact of choosing the “wrong spouse” includes a loss of confidence in making life decisions.

For the letter writer, the impact of choosing the “wrong spouse” includes a loss of confidence in making life decisions.

Column | Carolyn Hax: His mom is nice to their faces, then lets parenting critiques rip Mother-in-law is respectful and cooperative with them directly, then complains about their parenting choices to others.

Mother-in-law is respectful and cooperative with them directly, then complains about their parenting choices to others.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Do an affair, separate lives and eight sexless years mean divorce? Their lack of intimacy has spread to every aspect of their 30-year marriage, and the letter writer is stuck on what’s next.

Their lack of intimacy has spread to every aspect of their 30-year marriage, and the letter writer is stuck on what’s next.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Family annoyed that golden goose is conscious of credit card debt Letter writer had to cut back after going into debt treating family to luxuries — and they’re not liking the downgrade.

Letter writer had to cut back after going into debt treating family to luxuries — and they’re not liking the downgrade.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Should his spouse speak up when husband’s sister insults him? Husband’s sister is “openly hostile” to him, and the letter writer doesn’t know how to respond.

Husband’s sister is “openly hostile” to him, and the letter writer doesn’t know how to respond.

Column | Carolyn Hax: A decade after he broke engagement, ‘I act like I don’t know him’ He broke their engagement, so the letter writer pretends they’re strangers when they cross paths — but he’s not okay with this.

He broke their engagement, so the letter writer pretends they’re strangers when they cross paths — but he’s not okay with this.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Widow seeks a polite ‘no’ to … well, everyone A widow feels comfortable saying no to a date but feels rude declining invitations to be friends.

A widow feels comfortable saying no to a date but feels rude declining invitations to be friends.

Column | Carolyn Hax: As older partner declines, marriage now feels more like parenting Despite becoming caregiver now to a husband who is 16 years older, this letter writer hopes to preserve their “mutuality.”

Despite becoming caregiver now to a husband who is 16 years older, this letter writer hopes to preserve their “mutuality.”

Column | Carolyn Hax: Does spouse get a say in whether wife cuts ties with her family? “Black sheep” wife wants protective distance from relatives, but her spouse wants an extended family for their child’s benefit.

“Black sheep” wife wants protective distance from relatives, but her spouse wants an extended family for their child’s benefit.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Ex-hippie is ‘insulted’ by fancy expectations for relative’s wedding A Pacific Northwest aunt who had a backyard potluck wedding in the 1970s chafes at her niece’s Texas black-tie demands.

Does a wedding Q count as a timeline cleanse? Gift link: wapo.st/3R5iuiF

Need advice? Join columnist Carolyn Hax’s weekly chat (April 4 | 12 p.m. ET) Advice columnist Carolyn Hax answers your questions about the strange train we call life.

Carolyn Hax is taking your questions now

Column | Carolyn Hax: Her daughter, raised as her sister, finally learns the truth Her daughter from a teen pregnancy was secretly raised as her sister. Her biological father just told her the truth.

Her daughter from a teen pregnancy was secretly raised as her sister. Her biological father just told her the truth.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Technician sports dramatic new look. Does it warrant a comment? Their longtime HVAC tech has a new look, and a client wonders whether it’s okay to “comment on his transformation.”

Their longtime HVAC tech has a new look, and a client wonders whether it’s okay to “comment on his transformation.”

Column | Carolyn Hax: Widowed mom struggles with family politics in planning big vacation A letter writer wonders how to proceed after an effort to be generous and inclusive backfires, upsetting both her adult kids.

A letter writer wonders how to proceed after an effort to be generous and inclusive backfires, upsetting both her adult kids.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Adult daughter still feels ‘in the way’ for not having been a boy Mom favored the eldest girl, Dad loved their fifth baby, a boy — and three girls born trying for the boy were largely ignored.

Mom favored the eldest girl, Dad loved their fifth baby, a boy — and three girls born trying for the boy were largely ignored.

Column | Carolyn Hax: It’s a ‘great’ relationship. So why can’t she say what she wants? She’s embarrassed that she is still too worried about sounding “needy” to bring up the future of her relationship.

Goodness, no, women can’t sound “needy” 🤦🏻‍♀️ www.washingtonpost.com/advice/2025/...

Column | Carolyn Hax: Happy in life — until rich surgeon-artist-athlete sister walks in The letter writer’s coping strategy is to interrupt the “special guest” and take her down a peg — but the sister finally snapped.

The letter writer’s coping strategy is to interrupt the “special guest” and take her down a peg — but the sister finally snapped.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Wife watches TV during work, then complains about her productivity A spouse wonders how to respond when wife insists TV is okay while she works — then complains about her productivity.

A spouse wonders how to respond when wife insists TV is okay while she works — then complains about her productivity.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Their mom dreads the wedding after the bride sidelines her sister A mom is conflicted about her daughter’s wedding after the bride decides not to include her sister as an attendant.

A mom is conflicted about her daughter’s wedding after the bride decides not to include her sister as an attendant.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Daughters won’t forget Christian relatives’ bat mitzvah snub Intergenerational grudges are piling up in a mixed-faith family after a grandfather and aunt refuse to attend a bat mitzvah.

In which consequences are best served cold, too (gift link) wapo.st/4kx8kEW

Column | Carolyn Hax: Friend abruptly went silent to test whether anyone would notice She was quietly waiting for friends to be the ones to initiate, but the letter writer didn’t know this until it was too late.

She was quietly waiting for friends to be the ones to initiate, but the letter writer didn’t know this until it was too late.

Column | Carolyn Hax: Teen might scuttle prestigious college plans for romance A parent fears their teen will follow a first love to a lesser college and regret passing up a prestigious, free education.

Let’s all have a learning experience (that we’d rather not have) www.washingtonpost.com/advice/2025/...