Asking Eric: Siblings completely disengaged from mom’s care
"I’m feeling used and abused, and they can’t even do what I ask of them...
Parenting and Family
Asking Eric: Bride wants to cut terse sister-in-law from wedding guest list
"My fiancé says that excluding her will create drama."
Asking Eric: Friendship with father’s best friend becomes a burden
"My father was barely in my life; he left my brother and I with a...
Asking Eric: Dance student wants to advance without insulting instructor
"It's tricky to bring this up as we don't want to criticize their teaching style."
Asking Eric: Deaf sister excluded by brothers
"It's hard enough being the only girl and having a disability. What do you think...
Asking Eric: Stepmother unsure about giving quarrelsome stepson inheritance
"My husband has made it clear he thinks I should split my inherited land equally...
Asking Eric: Letter writer seeks the kindest way to end a friendship
"More plainly, I just don’t want to continue these other friendships right now."
Asking Eric: Partner’s work perks create strife at home
"I hate that he travels and I hate the fact that I'm envious of it."
Asking Eric: Mother’s rambling tests patience
"I love my mother dearly but at 84 she has reached the point of rambling."
Asking Eric: After years of moving, widow doesn’t know where to go in retirement
"You see, during my 36 years of marriage, we moved 13 times. I really don’t...
Asking Eric: Pet-sitting incident leads to damage and guilty feeling
"I feel like things are smoothed over but I also want some resolution so I...
Asking Eric: Arrogant contractor makes house work a chore
"How do you deal with someone who isn’t directly calling you a moron but acts...
Asking Eric: Couple disagrees on whether to charge houseguests
"My wife and I rarely argue, but we can’t seem to agree on this. What...
Asking Eric: Siblings stage hearing aid ‘intervention’
"My siblings came at me today, together, and approached me intervention-style to tell me when...
Asking Eric: Boyfriend spends so much time with his ex-wife’s family
"Any advice for me going forward? If he knows I don't like his doing that,...
Asking Eric: Old resentment sour 50th high school reunion
"The cost is outrageous. Plus, most of the people I would like to see are...
Asking Eric: Letter writer wants to eat strangers’ leftovers
"I don’t like food waste and am completely unbothered by the thought of sharing food...
Asking Eric: Relatives in another country prefer sister
"This has happened a number of times since we began using the shared WhatsApp."
Asking Eric: Neighbor’s kind act creates more problems
"In the last few years, my body has changed. I now use a walker. My...
Asking Eric: Friend’s outburst ruins game night
"We felt angry. It’s our house and they are our guests. How dare she do...
One of the rarest animal adaptations in the world happens in the winter in Colorado
Only 21 species turn white in the winter for camouflage. Four of them live in...
Asking Eric: Sister sends gifts despite repeated requests to stop
"I’ve asked her repeatedly to stop buying my family gifts, but every year I get...
Asking Eric: New friend group brings up old insecurities
"I do get invited to quarterly birthday parties (there's a separate text chain for that),...
Asking Eric: Couple has everything but still makes wedding registry
"They are, otherwise, nice caring people, but I feel they have gone off the rails...
Asking Eric: Parents kept up relationship with son’s ex after infidelity
"Then my son got engaged to a wonderful woman, whom we dearly love."
Asking Eric: Adult son’s belongings fill up parents’ house
"A few years ago, he started storing equipment, tools, bikes, and more in our garage,...
Asking Eric: COVID practices still cause rift between mother and daughter-in-law
"My wife and I are still fighting occasionally about this issue, and the spats are...
Asking Eric: Negative friend threatens to ruin shared vacation
"Sad to say, none of us really want to spend what should be a fun...
Asking Eric: Ex-military husband suddenly dressing like a cowboy
"It’s awkward to go anywhere in my casual clothes accompanied by my rootin’ tootin’ dressed...
Asking Eric: 12-step sponsor shares too much about sponsee
"She could have even characterized the person as a fellow-traveler or friend but used the...
Asking Eric: Clergy spouse keeps rummaging through church office
"What advice would you give a guy who just wants his office to be his...
Asking Eric: Mother wants to give daughter’s boyfriend a retirement account
"Do I grant son-in-law status to the boyfriend when distributing money? They are in a...
Asking Eric: Boyfriend’s babysitting infringes on relationship
"He and I have to schedule our time to go out and have fun around...
Asking Eric: Facebook posts fracture friendship
"This is the second time she has gotten so mad that she wouldn't speak to...
Asking Eric: Friends insist on visiting even though hosting is a burden
"We are in very good shape for our ages but still we are 87 and...
Asking Eric: Friend calls multiple times every day
"The problem is he calls two to three times a day. He is 80 years...
Asking Eric: Siblings want to involve grieving sister in holiday tradition
"I’m torn between respecting her feelings of discomfort and being heartbroken at the thought of...
Asking Eric: After 30 years, company’s cold retirement sendoff stings
"Honestly, it felt good to leave a place where I felt disrespected and tired of...
Asking Eric: Man struggles to re-connect with old friends
"Given the time and all factors, I have to ask if these are dormant or...
Asking Eric: Decades later, bullies still have power
"How do I get past reliving those painful events? Even writing this was painful."
Asking Eric: Parents struggle with cutting off financially dependent daughter
"When and how should we cut her off?"
Asking Eric: Readers offer creative ways to address divorce in Christmas cards
"Here are a few great suggestions and one that made me laugh."
Sick of ski traffic and crowds? Try these family-friendly winter activities instead
Celebrate the season with ice climbing, sledding, Nordic skiing, stargazing and more.
Asking Eric: Mutual friend turns two friends against a third
"This is problematic because then Paulo will probably get defensive or claim that he didn't...
The best things to do in Colorado when you have out-of-town visitors
Show off with a day trip to Estes Park, a tour of the Hammond's candy...
Asking Eric: Son and father are fighting, but parents still want to celebrate son’s birthday
"I love my son with all my heart, as I do all my children, and...
Asking Eric: Years after active addiction, family remains distant
"I guess what I'm asking is, what do I do to fix this and fast,...
Asking Eric: Daughter-in-law’s Friendsgiving overshadows family dinner
"Can you give me another way to look at this or some advice that will...
Fake trees are the way to go: No needles, no sap, no hassle
Here's one side in the real vs. fake Christmas tree debate.
Charlie Brown-style real trees are superior: snowshoes are optional
Here's the other side in the real vs. fake Christmas tree debate.
Asking Eric: Gift exchange tradition grows tiresome
"I'm at a loss for how to deal with this and am hoping you have...
Asking Eric: Acquaintance is friendly in real life but ignores on Facebook
"So now, what am I doing? Ignoring her posts, which makes me feel so stupid...
Asking Eric: Still-married grandson wants to bring his new girlfriend to visit
"How can we tell him without hurting his feelings and damaging our relationship?"
A guide to Denver’s best 2025 holiday lights, displays, shows and parades
From Zoo Lights to the 9News Parade of Lights, Denver is ready to light up...
Free and cheap things to do in December: Meet Santa’s reindeer, Governor’s Residence holiday tours
There's also TubaChristmas 2025, Santa visits, winter activities, store specials
Asking Eric: Friend shrugs off concerning memory issues
"Should I say something and encourage her to see a doctor? I could talk to...
These Denver holiday markets will make gift-buying easier
Denver is a winter wonderland at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market, Holiday Mercado and more.
Asking Eric: Tedious cookie tradition taxes family ties
"When she was no longer able, she gave me the cookie cutter, and my daughters...
Asking Eric: Husband does housework while wife plays online games
"I have a few health concerns that need to be managed and doing everything myself...
Asking Eric: Brother’s partner mocks in-laws even after their deaths
"My brother and other siblings say nothing, and I have been turning away to avoid...
The business of Christmas is booming for Christkindlmarket
The chamber has lately used the holiday event, which draws about 350,000 annually, to drive...
Asking Eric: After a birthday with no greetings, letter writer feels miserable
"Is it becoming more commonplace to forgo what was once common practice?"
Asking Eric: Messy housemate gives host silent treatment
"She said she has to keep her peace; she won’t speak. She won’t do her...
Asking Eric: Baking favor leads to salty feelings
"She never charges people for when she makes desserts since she loves to bake."
Asking Eric: Goddaughter’s wedding dress causes huge family rift
"She picked out a dress without consulting me that cost nearly 10 times that much...
Asking Eric: Years after failed marriage, ex can’t stop thinking about it
"This person lives rent free in my head and how do I get rid of...
Asking Eric: Stepchildren’s lack of manners reflects on stepmom
"Now that they are grown men, I am running into a similar, uncomfortable position with...
Asking Eric: Conflict between daughter and father traps mother in the middle
"Not 30 minutes after she left, he called and cursed me out. He blames me...
Asking Eric: After relapse, mother struggles with shame
"I had felt shame and expressed my regret and apology when I got sober, but...
Asking Eric: Family punished for missing wedding 50 years later
"Now our granddaughter is engaged to be married and Suzy told her that we did...
Asking Eric: Siblings clash over commemorating deceased sister
"I did not want to do this. I grieved my sister already and did not...
Asking Eric: Neighbor’s vacant home threatens property
"The tree is old and the dead branches are falling on my car."
Asking Eric: Boyfriend’s ex-mother-in-law still comes for coffee
"The issue is that the ex-wife comes into the house and now the ex-mother-in-law is...
Asking Eric: Girlfriend’s adult son gets in the way of relationship
"She tells me one day she loves me, the next day she does not want...
Asking Eric: ‘Friendly’ customer service keeps causing conflict
"I find that to be very intrusive from someone I don't know and may never...
Experts share their favorite winter birding destinations in Colorado
Flocks of raptors and waterfowl linger at places like Walden Ponds, Barr Lake and the...
Asking Eric: Parents try to force reunion with estranged brother
"With my parents, things don't get through unless I take drastic measures."
Asking Eric: After depression, cluttered house seems impossible to manage
"How can I start making progress and get my space (and confidence) back without feeling...
Asking Eric: In-law’s body hair makes holidays a chore
"I’m assuming it would not be appropriate for me to make the request that he...
Asking Eric: Friend only wants to complain about another friend
"I've been feeling sad and upset. I feel judged for setting a boundary."
Asking Eric: Aggressive neighbor claims seniors are harassing him
"It is not legal to water beyond the lawn and illegal to block passage on...
Asking Eric: After divorce, ex questions how to phrase holiday cards
"Any ideas on wording that is classy or funny to express this new family identity...
Asking Eric: Wife has racked up $16k in secret bills
"I am married to a liar, a sneak, someone with no conscience. What should I...
Asking Eric: 19 years and no proposal; what gives?
"I'm wondering if I should ask him next February, even though I feel he should...
Asking Eric: Parent gives daughter’s ex free room and board plus a loan
"I don't know if he self-sabotages or doesn't follow through."
Asking Eric: Daughter’s clutter keeps getting her kicked out of apartments
"Every year the landlord won't renew their lease. Happens every year."
Asking Eric: Friend is shell of himself after relationship
"If this were your friend, what would you say or how would you approach the...
Asking Eric: Family thinks brother is too wealthy to be included in tradition
"I’m tired of my husband participating in everyone’s birthday and then being ignored for his."
Asking Eric: Between affairs and a secret crypto account, wife can’t trust husband anymore
"Many years before, he’d had a two-year affair with another coworker. It was a devastating...
Asking Eric: Husband keeps giving wife socks; they remind her of a terrible experience
"I threw them away and they came back. He gave me five more pairs at...
Asking Eric: Yoga teacher follows coworker obsessively
"How do I tell Sue to find her own life path and seek her own...
Asking Eric: After nearly half a century, holiday hostess reaches limit
"I know if I say something about a hotel, they will be highly insulted."
Asking Eric: Neighbor is putting himself in grave danger but won’t change
"I know if I call an authority on him, he will know it was me....
Asking Eric: Wife struggles to keep holiday special after husband’s dementia diagnosis
"A celebration would be difficult to impossible for guests and family members because of his...
Asking Eric: After family death, bereaved kept the card but returned the cash
"I’ve sent out a lot of cards with money in them. We have a large...
Asking Eric: Friendship disrupted by house full of security cameras
"Her husband now has small cameras indoors and out. I find this a little creepy."
Asking Eric: Wife to stepdaughter — ‘this is war’
"She fights with me as if I'm taking my daughter's side."
Asking Eric: Neighbor is friendly but drives drunk
"But he frequents the bar often, and then drives home, which is a mile or...
Asking Eric: Niece grows distant from family after wedding
"I hate to make the situation worse, but I also don't want to be made...
Asking Eric: Prolonged grief complicated by obsessive-compulsive disorder
"Please don't say to see a therapist. I had one for many years, then she...