My boyfriend of two years is 23, I'm 22; he's always had trouble getting and keeping an erection, nothing's improved. I figure that either he's gay, has low testosterone, erectile dysfunction or isn't really attracted to me.
       He keeps saying its performance anxiety. He says that before we dated he had this same trouble with his ex-girlfriend, and she spread a rumour that he's gay. Perhaps he's scared I will too, which is making this worse.
      But I really think it's erectile dysfunction. How should I deal with it? He knows I'm not happy. I've asked him if he's gay or not. I'm finding it hard to be attracted to him due to these issues.
      I love and care for him, but I do want a sex life. He refuses to be open-minded about other possible causes.
       -Frustrated

Two things are very wrong with this situation:
      1)YOU need to stop diagnosing your boyfriend and start insisting he explore whatever's inhibiting his sexual activity if you're to continue in a dating relationship.
      2) HE needs to stop hiding from the issue. Whatever the cause, he has to know it and respond appropriately. Seeing a family doctor for any medical basis is a logical beginning; however, if he's confused about his sexual orientation, the doctor can also refer him for professional counselling on the matter.
       Meanwhile, hanging onto a relationship in which one partner wants sex and the other is making excuses for avoiding it, is unhealthy for both of you. Either you openly discuss and agree to confront the problem, or you call each other "just friends" and date others.

Our daughter recently broke up with her boyfriend of 18 months; they're both late teenagers. The problem: She keeps going back to him even though they always fight.
       We've been extremely patient with both of them, but when he said last night that he wanted to kill himself - well, I feared some harm to our daughter, too. We've previously contacted the police four times to separate them.
       She's 18, going to university. One officer asked, If she's so smart and also working two jobs, why is she with such a loser? Our only answer was to say she'd always taken in stray puppies and kittens.
       We don't want this boy to hurt himself and we don't want our daughter to see him, but the law here says that at 18 she can make her decisions.
       -Very Worried

That quality of being a rescuer of “strays” has unfortunately brought many good-natured women and men alike to stay attached to someone whose neediness can escalate to the point of danger.
        Since your daughter’s legally considered an adult, treat her like one. Tell her your concerns, in a rational way, and ask her what assurances she can give you – and herself - that she’ll be able to protect herself in a volatile situation.
       Provide her with emergency hotlines for a local suicide/distress centre, and an abused women’s shelter, along with police, ambulance and the nearest hospital.
      Given that she IS intellectually smart and also responsible, she may respond better to a logical, adult look at the position she places herself in, rather than to parental warnings and (in her mind) interference.
      That said, if you believe at some point that she’s in imminent danger, get to her immediately. Consider asking someone she respects (faith or community leader, other relative) to participate in an intervention with you if necessary.

Our daughter and her fiancé live far away, so we may not have a bridal shower here, though that’s when gift-registry information is usually mailed to shower guests.
       If it’s impolite to include the bridal registry locale in the wedding invitations, how do wedding guests discover it? I don't want to be presumptuous, but people want to know; it makes shopping much easier.
       -Curious

The so-called “rules” of wedding etiquette have been bent to fit all manner of different situations these days. Certainly a gift registry is commonly appreciated and used by guests; yet it’s apparent from people who write me, that some people resent the information appearing on or with the wedding invitation.
       Since most guests know either you, the bride, or the groom’s family, many will simply ask you outright where the couple are registered. And you can also have some relatives and friends spread the word.