Dear Annie: I work in a small office where everyone is friendly, but one co-worker has taken “friendly” to a new level. Over the past year, she’s begun confiding in me about deeply personal issues: her marriage troubles, financial stress, arguments she’s had the night before. At first, I listened out of kindness. But it’s becoming a daily occurrence.

These conversations can last an hour or more, and it’s starting to interfere with my work. I’ve fallen behind more than once because I didn’t know how to politely end things.

What makes this tricky is that she outranks me. She’s not my direct boss, but we work together closely enough that I worry about seeming cold or uncooperative. I also don’t want to embarrass her; she clearly trusts me.

Still, I dread when she walks by my desk. “Therapist” is not a part of my job description.

How do I squash this without burning bridges at work? — Cornered at My Desk

Dear Cornered: Kindness without limits quickly turns into resentment. When she arrives, greet her briefly, and then say, “I’ve got a tight deadline this morning. Can we catch up later?” Repeat as needed.

Most people will take the hint, even if it takes a while.

Dear Annie: My husband and I married 31 years ago, when my son was 7. After graduating high school, my son joined the Air Force and served for 11 years until he was injured. He then married and had a child.

He and his wife divorced when our grandchild was 2. Two years later, her mother was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome by proxy, and the court granted our son full custody. He wanted help raising his daughter, so they moved in with us. That was seven years ago.

I’m retired now, and my husband is thinking about retiring, too. Our grandchild is now 11, and she and her dad still live with us. We’d like to eventually sell our house and move to Florida or Texas, but our son says he can’t raise our grandchild on his own.

I’m so torn. I want to enjoy retirement with my husband. However, my son’s insistence that he can’t afford to raise his daughter without us makes me feel so guilty and fearful for both of their futures.

My husband has put up with a lot over the years because of this situation. He deserves to retire without the additional stress and financial burden of having these two living with us.

Please help me navigate this situation without feeling guilty. — Hopeless in Ohio

Dear Hopeless: You’ve given your son and granddaughter a tremendous gift: years of stability, love and support.

But your son is no longer a young man starting out. He’s a parent, and raising his daughter is his responsibility, not yours to share indefinitely. His belief that he “can’t” sounds more like fear than fact.

Move forward with compassion and clarity. Give him time to prepare and help him explore options, but be firm about your plans. You’re not abandoning him; you’re simply stepping back and returning the responsibility where it belongs.

You’ve done your part. Now it’s time to live the life you’ve earned, without guilt.

“Out of Bounds: Estrangement, Boundaries and the Search for Forgiveness” is out now! Annie Lane’s third anthology is for anyone who has lived with anger, estrangement or the deep ache of being wronged — because forgiveness isn’t for them. It’s for you. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Follow Annie Lane on Instagram at @dearannieofficial. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM