Dear Abby Thrill-loving mom gives no sympathy to fearful daughter
Dear Abby: I'm a 15-year-old girl and I have always had a fear of heights. But my mother and sister love thrill rides. As a result, we often go to theme parks. When we do, I'll usually go on a couple of the "kiddie rides," which is what Mom calls "mild" rides. Mom and my sister try to drag me on the roller coasters, but I always say no.

Dear Abby Friend feels she's always the caller who's waiting
Dear Abby: I often go to the movies with my friend "Valerie." During the movie she puts her phone on mute, but I can still hear when it vibrates. Val acts embarrassed by it, but she never turns the phone off.

Dear Abby See-through style leaves little to imagination
Dear Abby: I have been involved with "Barbie" for about six months. She's everything I ever wanted in a mate. We have a similar sense of humor, and our goals and ambitions are almost identical. Our values match, too -- except for one: My sense of propriety seems to be a stumbling block.

Dear Abby Courteous customers keep express lanes up to speed
Dear Abby: Your response to "Frustrated Shopper in Idaho" (April 5) made me very upset. I am a cashier in a local grocery store. I understand a shopper's frustration when she/he gets in the express lane only to find someone with a full cart up ahead.

Dear Abby Girlfriend can't see man's top-secret list
Dear Abby: My boyfriend, "Beau," and I moved in together and already we have trust issues. He doesn't trust me around his computer. He said he has things on it that are part of his past, and it's none of my business.

Dear Abby Man's plan for cutting costs wounds fiancee
Dear Abby: My boyfriend, "Paul," and I have been dating for four years. He has recently started talking about purchasing an engagement ring for me. Paul is well-off, although very frugal, which is how he accumulated most of his wealth.

Dear Abby Teen mom wants baby's father to do more
Dear Abby: I'm 15 and have a 6-month-old daughter who is my everything. Her father is 16, and he does drugs and drinks. He says he loves me and the baby, but given the choice, he'd rather be stoned or drunk at his friends' houses than see his daughter.

Dear Abby Girl who needs adult help swears friend to secrecy
Dear Abby: I'm 10 years old and worried about my friend "Kelly." Her father has fought in two wars and suffers from PTSD, and when he loses it, he hits her.

Dear Abby Dad sells heirlooms to impress new girlfriend
Dear Abby: My mother passed away last year, and my whole world has been rocked. To make it worse, my father has been acting like a little boy. Soon after Mom's death, he met a woman. Since then, he has not included me and my siblings in any decisions regarding Mom's belongings -- including expensive and sentimental things that have been in our family for years.

Dear Abby Layoff is a blow to man's self-esteem and marriage
Dear Abby: I have started a promising career I thoroughly enjoy. But my husband, "Derrick," has been laid off from his job due to the economy.

Dear Abby Wife dreams of dressing husband in lacy lingerie
Dear Abby: My husband and I recently watched a comedy that featured men cross-dressing. Ever since, I have had a burning desire to have my husband wear sexy lingerie and makeup.

Dear Abby Parents of 'problem' children share mom's shame
Dear Abby: Please print this for "Ashamed in California" (March 28), who feels tremendous guilt for "not loving" her hard-to-manage son. I'm a psychotherapist and the mother of two boys, one of whom is "difficult."

Dear Abby Son given up for adoption is threat to woman's marriage
Dear Abby: I became an unwed mother many years ago, when there was a stigma attached to having an illegitimate child. Unable to care for my son, I placed him for adoption. He has now found me.

Dear Abby Daughter pays homage to dad who raised her well
Dear Abby: Please print my letter on Father's Day because I'd like to say something. I was raised by my father, no mother in sight. He took on the job of two parents and didn't bat an eyelash. I was 6 when Dad changed jobs, bought a house and got my siblings and me out of foster care where our mother had left us.

Dear Abby College freshman fumes over having to live at home
Dear Abby: My 17-year-old son, "Seth," is set to go off to college. He is going to a state university about 20 minutes from our home.

Dear Abby Family objects to woman's Internet romance
Dear Abby: I met "Paul" through an ad I placed on an Internet dating service. We have been out in person and have also been cyber-dating for nearly a year. Paul used to live close by, but he got an offer on his place, so he sold it and moved to his second home in another state. He invited me to come along, but because I had college-aged children still residing with me, I didn't move.

Dear Abby Employer obliged to give new mom a private space
Dear Abby: Please tell "Privacy Please in Santa Clara, Calif." (March 16) that she does not have to pump her breast milk in the bathroom! Depending on the laws in her state, she may be entitled to request that her employer create a dedicated pumping location for new moms.

Dear Abby Man puts convenience ahead of girlfriend's safety
Dear Abby: My live-in boyfriend, "Travis," and I are having a disagreement. When I get home around 5 p.m. I lock the door behind me, especially when I'm home alone. Travis gets home between 4:40 and 8 p.m.

Dear Abby Reluctant bridesmaid looks for way to bow out
Dear Abby: I'm in my early 20s and have worked for this company for a few years. One of my co-workers is my age and has always been very sweet. We talk occasionally about casual events in our lives, but I have never socialized with her outside of work and don't consider her more than a "work friend."

Dear Abby Law student trying to pass the bar is hampered by mom
Dear Abby: I am starting to prepare for one of the most difficult hurdles of my career, the bar exam. Please tell me what I should do about my mother -- who just does not seem to get it.

Dear Abby Plain talk may help friend who has trouble listening
Dear Abby: I'm a happily married woman who has always valued my friendships. I feel fortunate to have about a dozen women friends I can talk to, have lunch with and enjoy girls' weekends with.

Dear Abby Adopted child needs to know family history of addiction
Dear Abby: My 14-year-old son, "Adam," has known he was adopted since he was old enough to understand. Adam's birth parents both were addicted to drugs, alcohol and tobacco. In fact, Adam tested positive for cocaine at birth.

Dear Abby Careless spending may cost family its home
Dear Abby: I am torn about what to do. My sister has five children, all under 18. She has full custody and receives child support every month from her ex-husband.

Dear Abby Woman hides her body and feelings from her husband
Dear Abby: I am 43, the mother of four children and just celebrated my 20th anniversary. Is it normal for someone to be married all this time and still not want your husband to see you naked?

Dear Abby Philanderer's wife invites mistress to be her guest
Dear Readers: In my many years of involvement with this column (and before), I have heard some creative name-calling and may have even indulged in a few choice words myself. But your scatological creativity in describing "The Other Woman, Anywhere, USA" (March 11) singed my eyebrows to the roots. Some readers thanked me for my reply. Others felt I was too easy on the letter writer. And others ... well, read on:

Dear Abby 'Other woman' comes to regret life with 'other man'
Dear Abby: I'm responding to "The Other Woman, Anywhere, USA" (March 11). Please tell your readers if they find themselves in her shoes, they should RUN in the opposite direction.

Dear Abby Guilt haunts rape victim after attacker's suicide
Dear Abby: When I was 15, I was raped by a family friend. I did what I thought was the right thing to do and told my parents. The man was arrested, and DNA tests proved everything. Charges were pressed.

Dear Abby New husband clings tightly to his old bachelor habits
Dear Abby: "Ralph" and I have been married a little over a year. It's the second marriage for both of us. We were both single for six years after our divorces, so we had time to become independent.

Dear Abby High school sweethearts have different aims
Dear Abby: I am 21 and have been with my high school sweetheart, "Andy," for six years. I can see myself with him for the rest of my life, but there's a problem. I am very career-oriented and have big dreams for going far, but Andy is the complete opposite. He didn't finish school and is content with a low-paying job for his "career."