Asking Eric: Retired parents feel guilty they’re comfortable while their kids pinch pennies
Eric encourages retired parents to stop writing a narrative of resentment for their children and...
“Asking Eric” is a popular new column in the Loveland Reporter-Herald, features Eric Thomas’ expert advice on personal issues. A favorite among Loveland residents, it offers practical, empathetic guidance on relationships, family, and work, making it a cherished resource in the community.
Asking Eric
Asking Eric: Caregiving friend struggles to hold boundary
Eric helps a caregiver establish boundaries with a cousin who refuses to sell her home...
Asking Eric: Veteran wants to find lost love
Eric helps an "Old G.I." navigate the social etiquette of reaching out to a high...
Asking Eric: Adopted daughter’s birth grandmother has questions
Eric advises a mother on how to gently correct a grieving grandmother’s misconceptions about her...
Asking Eric: Husband’s downward spiral put him and others at risk
Eric provides urgent advice for a wife dealing with her husband’s drunk driving and marital...
Asking Eric: Brother’s burial plans reject his faith tradition
Eric guides a brother through the complexities of discussing end-of-life wishes without overstepping boundaries. Additionally,...
Asking Eric: Grandfather doesn’t want to hold grandchildren
Eric reassures a grandfather that it is okay to skip the "baby phase" in favor...
Asking Eric: Sister shares, then retracts, harsh opinion about brother’s life
Eric advises a man on how to seek clarity after his sister retracted her extremist...
Asking Eric: Sister’s personality drastically changed after divorce
Eric helps a reader set boundaries with an impulsive sister while managing their mother’s care....
Asking Eric: Family wants billionaire cousin to share
A reader seeks advice on approaching an estranged, ultra-rich cousin for financial help, while another...
Asking Eric: Friend’s nose-blowing goes too far
A reader is fed up with a friend's unsanitary nose-blowing at dinner, while another struggles...
Asking Eric: Grandparents forbidden from hugging grandchild
This week, Asking Eric navigates the delicate boundaries of new parenthood as grandparents struggle with...
Asking Eric: Teen daughter plans to marry boy who belittles her
This week, Asking Eric tackles the nightmare scenario of a teenager rushing into marriage with...
Asking Eric: Husband posts unflattering photos to his large social media audience
This week, Asking Eric tackles the digital boundary-crossing of a husband posting unflattering photos to...
Asking Eric: Church group doesn’t care about friend’s wealth
This week, Asking Eric addresses the frustration of a long-term friend who can't stop "workshopping"...
Asking Eric: Longtime massage therapist won’t stop talking
This week, Asking Eric addresses the awkwardness of a massage therapist who talks through every...
Asking Eric: Mother’s lies are getting out of control
This week, Asking Eric addresses brothers concerned about their mother’s paranoid "fibbing," suggesting it may...
Asking Eric: Self-centered high school friend ruins social gatherings
This week, Asking Eric addresses the frustration of a weekly social group plagued by a...
Asking Eric: Sister-in-law supports ‘useless’ adult son
This week, Asking Eric tackles the difficult reality of financial elder abuse and the steps...
Asking Eric: Potential retiree fears boredom
This week, Asking Eric offers solace to a woman facing an unplanned retirement, reframing the...
Asking Eric: Executor left holding the bag for irresponsible friend
This week, Asking Eric explores the social and legal boundaries of friendship. Eric advises a...
Asking Eric: Former best friend becomes secretive
This week, Asking Eric tackles a best friendship turned secretive and obligatory. Then, a frustrated...
Asking Eric: Mother hopes inheritance will bring daughters closer together
Dear Eric: I have two daughters, “Tracy,” who has two adult children, and “Mary,” who...
Asking Eric: Friend’s body odor causes conflict
This week, Asking Eric tackles the delicate balance of supporting a disabled veteran whose lack...
Asking Eric: Mother still friendly with daughter’s stalker ex-fiancé
This week, Asking Eric responds to a woman "dumbfounded" by her mother’s continued friendship with...
Asking Eric: Relationship starting to feel more like a friendship
This week, Asking Eric responds to "Confused in Iowa," who feels her relationship is shifting...
Asking Eric: Rough nursing appointment scares patient
This week, Asking Eric responds to a patient wary of returning to a nurse after...
Asking Eric: Twin brother hijacks wedding with his own proposal
This week, Asking Eric tackles the awkwardness of a twin brother wanting to propose during...
Asking Eric: ‘Very online’ girlfriend shares too much with strangers
This week, Asking Eric addresses the discomfort of discovery when a partner posts relationship details...
Asking Eric: Dying friend refuses contact from friends
This week, Asking Eric addresses the heartbreak of a long-time friend withdrawing during a terminal...
Asking Eric: Husband in unhappy marriage stays for the adult children
This week, Asking Eric responds to a father of five who feels trapped in a...
Asking Eric: Pushy cancer support group member gives unwelcome advice
This week, Asking Eric addresses a reader facing repetitive, painful comments about their medical hair...
Asking Eric: Flaky stepdaughter disrespects home
This week, Asking Eric tackles the tension of a stepdaughter who pops in and out...
Asking Eric: Everyone has opinions about daughter’s medical care
This week, Asking Eric provides strategies for parents of children with complex needs to shut...
Asking Eric: Sister has strong opinions about school choice
This week, Asking Eric addresses the "lightning rod" issue of school choice when a sister's...
Asking Eric: Reader questions how to find fulfillment in life
This week, Asking Eric responds to a reader seeking fulfillment in a problem-free life. Plus,...
Asking Eric: Brother’s wedding requires nephews be left with stranger sitter at reception
This week, Asking Eric tackles the logistical nightmare of child-free receptions at destination weddings. Plus,...
Asking Eric: Adopted daughter excluded from inheritance
Asking Eric addresses the deep pain of a Black adoptee whose white, religious parents excluded...
Asking Eric: Caregiving husband struggling after wife’s accident
Asking Eric addresses the raw emotions of a husband struggling with the physical and mental...
Asking Eric: Friends side with person exhibiting abusive tendencies
Asking Eric explores the difficult journey of self-accountability when a reader recognizes their own abusive...
Asking Eric: Brother’s book reveals traumatic family secret without permission
Asking Eric explores the boundaries of storytelling after a brother discloses a traumatic childhood incident...
Asking Eric: Estranged sister would be furious to find other family is still in contact
Asking Eric explores the complexities of family estrangement, from an "invisible aunt" questioning her connection...
Asking Eric: Boss is an alcoholic, but no one at office will face reality
Asking Eric navigates the murky waters of office politics and personal boundaries. From a worker...
Asking Eric: Friend never picks up when called
Asking Eric tackles a friend who never answers the phone, a relative worried about a...
Asking Eric: Grieving relative doesn’t acknowledge sympathy gift
A reader is miffed after sending a sympathy box and receiving no acknowledgment. Asking Eric...
Asking Eric: Friends only want to socialize outside, not at home
A reader is confused by the "muted" response to an invitation to their holiday home....
Asking Eric: Family member’s death anniversary mars birthday
A reader is tired of friends reaching out to mourn a community member on their...
Asking Eric: Friend is spiritual but also materialistic
A reader is fed up with a long-time friend who constantly boasts about her children's...
Asking Eric: Aunt wants to skip wedding over political divide
A sister is torn between her love for her brother and her disdain for his...
Asking Eric: Daughters warn mother of internet scam, but are they overreacting?
A woman eager for politically like-minded companionship is at odds with her daughters, who suspect...
Asking Eric: Friend says daughter has problems, but friend may be the one at fault
A reader is concerned by a friend’s "ranting tirades" and extreme monitoring of her high-achieving...
Asking Eric: Fiancé doesn’t pay his share and lets friends crash for free
A woman is exhausted by her unemployed fiancé's refusal to contribute fairly to their household....
Asking Eric: Parents concerned about adult son’s depression
Parents are torn between respecting their 30-year-old son's autonomy and fearing the isolation of his...
Asking Eric: Friend drops the ball after brain tumor diagnosis
After a scary brain tumor diagnosis, a reader’s "best friend" of four decades failed to...
Asking Eric: Coworkers constantly excluded older employee
A 61-year-old legal professional feels ignored and excluded by younger coworkers and a "princess" colleague....
Asking Eric: Longtime friends excluded from group trip
A couple is heartbroken after discovery their close friends and cousins booked a group trip...
Asking Eric: Cane-user tired of encouraging comments about walking
A reader using mobility aids is exhausted by well-meaning but frustrating "encouragement" from others. Asking...
Asking Eric: Friend’s sullen son makes visits a chore
A frustrated reader wonders how to address a friend's uncommunicative son without sounding judgmental. Asking...
Asking Eric: Moving in with boyfriend complicated by bully brother
A young graduate is reconsidering her future after witnessing her boyfriend's brother's toxic behavior. Asking...
Asking Eric: Parents disinherit son for no reason
After years of passive-aggressive behavior, a couple discovers they’ve been disinherited. Asking Eric explores how...
Asking Eric: Fitness-class nemesis won’t stop pestering
A retiree's peaceful gym routine is ruined by a classmate who won't stop singing and...
Asking Eric: Girlfriend’s neighborly conversations irk boyfriend
A boyfriend is irked by his partner's casual conversations with a male neighbor, prompting a...
Asking Eric: Writer wonders if their stories are worth hearing
A bereaved reader seeks Eric's advice on overcoming procrastination and self-doubt to finally start writing....
Asking Eric: Pal’s huge ego squeezes friendship
A reader is tired of a friend who constantly brags about her own greatness, while...
Asking Eric: Father’s simplistic questions frustrate son
A son is losing his patience with a father who treats him like a human...
Asking Eric: Stepmom goes to great lengths to avoid ‘useless’ stepson
A stepmother is at her breaking point after learning her husband's son is moving in...
Asking Eric: Niece holds 20-year grudge over bad date
A woman dreads a family funeral because of a niece and nephew who have been...
Asking Eric: Parents worry about college-age son’s ‘junk’ diet
A concerned mother turns to Asking Eric for advice on her college-age son's poor nutrition...
Asking Eric: Cheating ex returns; asks for second chance
A reader asks Asking Eric if they should take back an ex-wife who admitted to...
Asking Eric: Grandson has no motivation; daughter enables him
This week, Asking Eric offers a roadmap for a grandfather worried about his grandson’s unemployment...
Asking Eric: Informal music group marred by tone-deaf participant
This week, Asking Eric addresses the challenge of a sweet but unskilled musician ruining a...
Asking Eric: Differing religious traditions create confusion in friendship
This week, Asking Eric addresses the tension between two lifelong friends over unacknowledged religious holidays...
Asking Eric: Longtime friends leave couple out of annual vacation
This week, Asking Eric navigates the hurt of a "Left Behind" friend who watched a...
Asking Eric: Couple gives man cash gift; man sends it to scammer
This week, Asking Eric weighs in on a couple’s debate over gifting cash to a...
Asking Eric: Aunt is disinvited from wedding ceremony, but still expected at reception
This week, Asking Eric tackles the "Reception Only" dilemma for a family wedding and offers...
Asking Eric: Adult daughter’s job struggles keep mother from finding happiness
This week, Asking Eric addresses a mother’s dilemma as she prepares to move in with...
Asking Eric: Introduction of a child changes dynamic for longtime housemates
This week, Asking Eric advises a woman whose peaceful home life was disrupted by her...
Asking Eric: Relatives refuse to go one holiday without drinking
This week, Asking Eric supports a reader in recovery facing pushback from in-laws over a...
Asking Eric: Couple’s happy marriage breaks down over laundry
This week, Asking Eric tackles the friction of household labor after 40 years of marriage...
Asking Eric: Party attendee makes her own goodie bag
This week, Asking Eric weighs in on a birthday guest with a habit of taking...
Asking Eric: Feuding daughters distress mother
This week, Asking Eric addresses the heartbreak of a mother caught between two feuding daughters...
Asking Eric: Neighbors and acquaintances crash private parties
This week, Asking Eric tackles two difficult boundary issues: how to politely but firmly stop...
Asking Eric: Mother resents children who rescued her from financial ruin
This week, Asking Eric offers guidance to a "Resented Helping Hand" struggling with a mother’s...
Asking Eric: Old love resurfaces 45 years later, bringing back old hurts
A 70-year-old woman is left reeling after a former love resurfaces to profess his feelings,...
Asking Eric: Son judges parents’ marijuana use
A retired couple feels judged by their adult child for their legalized marijuana habit, while...
Asking Eric: Husband’s childhood friends pull him away from family
A wife feels pushed to the edge as her husband abandons family time for his...
Asking Eric: Best friend doesn’t return texts; the new normal?
Eric addresses the sting of being ignored by a lifelong friend and offers strategies for...
Asking Eric: Alexa’s eavesdropping makes for uncomfortable visits with friends
From the privacy risks of "always-listening" smart devices like Alexa to the social pressure of...
Asking Eric: Conflict at concert stage ruins band fan’s tradition
A long-time music fan is threatened by a couple at a show, while another reader...
Asking Eric: After brother’s death, his terrible wife wants to stay in touch
A reader is "done" with her nastiest relative—her late brother-in-law’s wife—who now wants a meetup....
Asking Eric: 70-year-old fears he is a sugar daddy
This week, Asking Eric tackles the "sugar daddy" dilemma in a 28-year age gap relationship...
Asking Eric: Students give teacher gifts but her boyfriend objects
In this edition, Asking Eric shuts down a boyfriend’s "humble" demands regarding teacher appreciation gifts....
Asking Eric: Brother bullies siblings over aging mother’s care
This week, Asking Eric navigates the emotional minefield of sibling power struggles during hospice care....
Asking Eric: Wellness check severs decades-old friendship
This week, Asking Eric tackles the "vitriolic" response a woman received after reporting cognitive concerns...
Asking Eric: Holiday hugs rubbed customer the wrong way
In this edition, Asking Eric helps a traveler deal with a hotel employee’s physical boundary-crossing...
Asking Eric: Without public weigh-ins, weight-loss motivation falters
In this edition, Asking Eric helps a reader find internal motivation to maintain weight loss...
Asking Eric: Friend wants to ‘divorce’ friend’s boorish husband
In this edition, Asking Eric offers strategies for maintaining a close friendship when you can't...
Asking Eric: Siblings resent parents for their clutter
In this edition, Asking Eric offers advice to siblings frustrated by their parents' refusal to...
Asking Eric: Parents suffering financial hardship feel guilty they can’t give to daughters
This week, Asking Eric helps a couple struggling with cancer and job loss let go...
Asking Eric: Volatile daughter-in-law overhears family talking about her
This week, Asking Eric tackles the fallout of a daughter-in-law's temper tantrum and the subsequent...
