Family Boundaries | Ask Uncle Gary

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Eleven Months Later

Altadena, CA. Nearly a year after the Eaton Fire carved its way through the foothills, the town is still living in its shadow. Eleven months sounds like enough time for life to snap back into place, but for many families, the calendar doesn’t match reality. People are still scattered across borrowed bedrooms, spare couches, and motel rooms that were never meant to be home. Entire neighborhoods feel like they’re holding their breath.

Dec 30, 2025

More Than Just a “Friend

Dear Uncle Gary, My stepmom keeps introducing my husband as my “friend.” Not once, not twice, every time . We’ve been married for over two years, and it’s not like she doesn’t know. She was at the wedding. She’s met his family. She’s seen the ring. At first, I brushed it off as forgetfulness or awkwardness, but now it feels intentional. Like she’s minimizing our relationship, or refusing to acknowledge it. It’s starting to feel disrespectful, not just to him, but to me as wel

My mom (39) is dating her coworker (20). I’m 21.

Hey Uncle Gary, My mom (39) is dating her coworker (20). I’m 21, and I’ve actually known him for years; she even tried to set me up with him last summer. We flirted a little, nothing serious, but now he’s her boyfriend. It feels gross, like I’m part of some twisted fantasy. My mom has always been my best friend, the person I trusted most. This broke something in me. She knows how I feel about her dating guys close to my age, but younger than me? I can’t respect that. My young