Dear Abby advice for life Woman objects to giving boss her cell phone number
Dear Abby: My boss wants my cell phone number for "work purposes." He has trouble with limits, and I am reluctant to give it to him. I don't want to receive text messages, unsolicited calls or contact outside of work. My private life is just that -- private.

Dear Abby advice for life Friend in need repaid with bitter disappointment
Dear Abby: Please print this for me on behalf of myself and all the other well-intentioned folks out there who have lent money to others.

Dear Abby advice for life Man wrapped up in girlfriend ignores visiting grandpa
Dear Abby: My wife and I were visiting our children and grandson, "Rhett," age 24. Rhett is a college student who lives at home. He had his girlfriend, "Peggy," who lives in another town, at the house for the weekend.

Dear Abby advice for life Displays of affection between parents and children praised

Dear Abby: Thank you for your response to "Alarmed in Apple Valley," who was concerned because her teenage nephew shows so much affection toward his mother. I raised a very affectionate son who, to this day at age 30, hugs and kisses me no matter where we meet. I raised him with the principle that because he is male does not mean he has to hide his feelings, as generations before him did. My daughter-in-law tells me often that she could not ask for a better husband and father to her children.

Dear Abby advice for life Mom longs to have empty nest all to herself again
Dear Abby: I have a 19-year-old daughter, "Caitlin," whom I love very much. Despite a few rocky periods, we have a great relationship.

Dear Abby advice for life Wife wants 'I love you' to be reserved for those she loves
Dear Abby: I have strong feelings about the word "love." I use it only when I truly mean it. My husband's family, however, bandies it about as a common word.

Dear Abby advice for life Don't forget those batteries when 'falling back' Sunday
Dear Abby: As a fire officer, I have seen far too many families fall victim to accidental home fires. It is devastating to find out that a life could have been saved if someone had only taken that simple step of replacing a dead battery in a smoke alarm. Nearly 96 percent of American homes have at least one smoke alarm. But did you know that 19 percent of American homes lack a working smoke alarm because the batteries are missing or dead?

Dear Abby advice for life Multitasking daughter is driving toward disaster
Dear Abby: My daughter insists that she's a "multitasker" -- too busy to telephone or text except when she's driving. It scares me to be in the passenger seat while she's talking on the phone or picking up toys the baby dropped from his car seat.

Special-needs kids need special parents
Dear Abby: On Aug. 10 you printed a letter from an aunt who was upset because her sister, the mother of a child with autism, doesn't have time to join in fundraising with her and the rest of the family. While I commend the writer and her family for raising money for autism research, that woman needs to cut her sister some slack.

Dear Abby advice for life Special-needs children require special parents
Dear Abby: On Aug. 10 you printed a letter from an aunt who was upset because her sister, the mother of a child with autism, doesn't have time to join in fundraising with her and the rest of the family. While I commend the writer and her family for raising money for autism research, that woman needs to cut her sister some slack.

Dear Abby advice for life Woman's predatory boss is eager to score again
Dear Abby: I attended a business-related function with my boss and some co-workers. I had way too much to drink and ended up having sex with my boss. (He offered me a ride to my car and took advantage of me.) If I had been sober, it would never have happened.

Dear Abby advice for life Husband's dangerous driving puts his business at risk
Dear Abby: My husband, "Harvey," and I have operated a home-based business for more than 20 years. Harvey is an amazing technician, extremely efficient with his time on the job. The problem is, he is always in a hurry to get to the next job.

Dear Abby advice for life Parents harm their children when they let them cheat
Dear Abby: I was raised from an early age that if you play a game, you have to play fair and obey the rules. Those rules were never bent regardless of what the game was or who we played with.

Dear Abby advice for life Wife who slimmed down is pumping up her social life
Dear Abby: My wife, "Laura," and I have been married 15 years. She recently had gastric bypass surgery and has lost 80 pounds so far.

Son was wrong to tape over family's entire video history
Dear Abby: When our first grandchild was born, my son, "Vic," and his wife bought the first video camera in the family. I often asked them to bring it to family get-togethers, and to help out, I purchased dozens of long-running, high-quality tapes.

Dear Abby advice for life Being gracious to ungrateful girlfriend
Dear Abby: My husband and I have always had a warm and close relationship with our college-age children. We often host their friends in our home, making certain they're comfortable, well-fed and welcome.