Girl’s severe allergies cause strain with animal-loving aunt

DEAR ABBY: My 8-year-old daughter is seriously allergic to most animals, including cats and dogs. Even a little fur sets her off. She was recently sent home from school sick after she had borrowed a sweater from a friend who has a cat.

Teenager needs consequences after lying

DEAR HARRIETTE: I thought that my daughter and I had a great, open relationship where she talked to me about if not everything, most things. We have clear rules about what she can and cannot do, and there are checks and balances to ensure that she is following directions.

Hard-working wife unloads on husband at day’s end

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have demanding jobs neither of us is crazy about. I sell insurance; she manages a hairdressing salon for a large company. At day’s end I keep the events of the day – good or bad – to myself.

Wife discovers digital trail left by man having affair

DEAR ABBY: My husband went to his 45th class reunion a state away and hooked up with a classmate. Over the next few months it went from talking and texting to her sending him nude pictures of herself. I found her emails professing her love to him.

Lysine can potentially help both types of herpes virus

ASK THE DOCTORS Dear Doctor: Are cold sores and herpes the same thing? I’ve got both, and finding out there’s no cure really stinks. My friends say lysine can help. Is that true? Dear Reader: Cold sores and genital herpes are caused by different types of the herpes simplex virus, or HSV.

Families encouraged to prepare for disasters

Disasters can alter a family’s normal routine with little warning. Neighborhood streets can be closed because of large debris or downed power lines. Suddenly, an area that is a familiar part of a normal daily routine is now unrecognizable.

Girl with Asperger’s gets little attention from dad

DEAR ABBY: My husband is more interested in hanging out with his friends than caring about our 11-year-old daughter who has Asperger’s syndrome. She’s a great kid and smart, but she has challenges and needs help. It falls to me to do everything with and for her.

Lugging heavy backpacks is bad for kid’s health

Dear Doctor: Our sons are ages 9, 11 and 14, and like all of the other schoolkids we know, they’re hauling around crazy-huge backpacks all day. What does that weight do to a child’s back? Can carrying a heavy backpack every day cause scoliosis?

Friend pushing for romantic relationship

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who I am sort of interested in, but I’m not at all ready to be in a serious romantic relationship with. He is very interested in being with me. Nearly every day he talks about wanting to take the relationship further.

Spring cleaning in Clinton

CLINTON DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL With warm weather just around the corner it is a good time to make our city more attractive to visitors and potential residents.