R. Eric Thomas

Bestselling author R. Eric Thomas brings his signature wit and warmth to “Asking Eric,” an advice column tackling life’s quandaries. Drawing on his stint as Slate’s “Dear Prudence,” Thomas dishes out insightful, humorous guidance for navigating relationships, work, and everything in between.

Dear Eric: My daughter is having her fourth child. She wants to name him after her brother who died of suicide three years ago.

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Asking Eric: My daughter wants to name her son after her dead brother. And I’m not ready for that.

September 9, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: My daughter is having her fourth child. She wants to name him after her brother who died of suicide three years ago.

Dear Eric: Twelve years ago, I was a foster parent for a 12-year-old. “Angel” was reunified with her father after a year and when that blew up, she came back to live with me.

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Asking Eric: Foster parent wants to be done with drama

September 8, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: Twelve years ago, I was a foster parent for a 12-year-old. “Angel” was reunified with her father after a year and when that blew up, she came back...

Dear Eric: Ordinarily, my friend is loving and affectionate to her middle-aged cat. She takes good care of him, with food, water, and attention. Today, she told me her cat has a condition that requires medical care, but she feels the vet just wants her money.

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Asking Eric: Friend’s treatment of ailing cat is hard to take

September 7, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: Ordinarily, my friend is loving and affectionate to her middle-aged cat. She takes good care of him, with food, water, and attention. Today, she told me her cat...

Dear Eric: My sister was engaged to a guy, “Peter.” I’ve known Peter for a long time. Not long before the wedding, she broke the engagement because she met someone else, “Rick.”

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Asking Eric: Sister’s ex doesn’t know she’s back in town

September 6, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: My sister was engaged to a guy, “Peter.” I’ve known Peter for a long time. Not long before the wedding, she broke the engagement because she met someone...

Dear Eric: My father-in-law is in a relationship with a person that makes staying at his home during a visit an awful experience for me, my husband and our kids. My husband is not one to confront and is simply too kind and shy to stand up to this woman who has taken over hosting.

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Asking Eric: Father-in-law’s partner makes visits unbearable

September 5, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: My father-in-law is in a relationship with a person that makes staying at his home during a visit an awful experience for me, my husband and our kids....

Dear Eric: Our 11-year-old nephew (on my husband's side) is like Dudley from the “Harry Potter” series. He's spoiled, entitled, rude and disrespectful to young and old family members. Family gatherings have become very stressful and tense due to his behavior.

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Asking Eric: 11-year-old nephew bullies uncle and cousins

September 4, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: Our 11-year-old nephew (on my husband's side) is like Dudley from the “Harry Potter” series. He's spoiled, entitled, rude and disrespectful to young and old family members. Family...

Dear Eric: I’m attending my estranged son’s wedding. As the mother of the groom, I’m unsure of what my responsibilities are. More importantly, his wife-to-be is Buddhist. I have absolutely no problem with this, what I’m unsure about is the gift and the attire. I know that you aren’t supposed to wear black, white or patterns of any kind.

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Asking Eric: Estranged mom struggles with son’s wedding invite

September 3, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: I’m attending my estranged son’s wedding. As the mother of the groom, I’m unsure of what my responsibilities are. More importantly, his wife-to-be is Buddhist. I have absolutely...

Dear Eric: I, a 45-year-old female, have been married to my husband, a 45-year-old male, for eight years. He has never called my mom by her first name or any other name like "Ma". When we visit my mother, he'll walk past her without a word.

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Asking Eric: Husband’s grudge against mother-in-law affecting family

September 2, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: I, a 45-year-old female, have been married to my husband, a 45-year-old male, for eight years. He has never called my mom by her first name or any...

Dear Eric: Before a summer trip to visit family in 2019, a friend’s cat passed away. She wrapped the kitty in one of her husband’s T-shirts and buried it in the desert backyard, maybe two feet deep. Around the day she was leaving, she discovered that desert fauna had slipped inside the backyard fence and disturbed the site. She told me she couldn't deal with the mess; which I completely understand. I was cat-sitting her other cat, so I helped.

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Asking Eric: Ex-friend left behind dead cat

September 1, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: Before a summer trip to visit family in 2019, a friend’s cat passed away. She wrapped the kitty in one of her husband’s T-shirts and buried it in...

Dear Eric: My daughter-in-law wants a much closer relationship with me than I feel comfortable with. She began calling me “mom” when she and my son first got engaged. I’ve told her several times that I would prefer to be called by my first name, but she still calls me mom.

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Asking Eric: Daughter-in-law wants to be too close

August 31, 2024 at 4:30 a.m.

Dear Eric: My daughter-in-law wants a much closer relationship with me than I feel comfortable with. She began calling me “mom” when she and my son first got engaged. I’ve...

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