Dear Carolyn: My husband and I are expecting a baby via gestational carrier. The surrogate is my husband’s cousin, who has kids of her own and very generously offered to help us when we learned…

Dear Carolyn: As inappropriate as it feels to “need” a baby shower, my husband was just laid off and we, after several miscarriages, are finally expecting our first child in August. My successful, established, younger…

Dear Carolyn: How does one balance expectations between reasonably high and realistic? I’ve had a few disappointments lately that hit me fairly hard — a promotion dangled and then delayed, a budding friendship that’s running…

Dear Carolyn: I am married and have a 2-year-old son. Last week, someone sent me two dozen roses with a note that said they wanted to make me smile, because I make them smile. It…

Dear Carolyn: I was married to my ex for 20 years when we divorced. I wasn’t attractive to him anymore since I gained weight with our three children — his exact words. I am now…

Hi, Carolyn: Is there anything to be gained from talking to an ex who said he never wanted children, and absolutely refused to have them, about why he changed his mind? We dated for several…

Dear Carolyn: I’m 32, married with a great wife and a 2-year-old son, and my life is pretty good except for my so-called father. He left me and my mom alone when I was just…

Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: I have a friend who suffers from a mental illness. Medication does not seem to make a difference. My friend is a good person, but difficult. I…

Hi, Carolyn: Can you will yourself to like someone? My sister is dating someone who annoys me. I don’t think I’ll ever like him. I’m hoping they break up, but it’s stressful for my sister…

Dear Carolyn: I am a single mom to two incredible boys. My ex-husband’s mother is my live-in nanny and general cheerleader (a story in itself). I have a great job, a beautiful home and a…