After reading so many online dating horror stories I’m sharing my positive experiences.
Over five years, I initiated contact with many guys who had appealing write-ups and pictures, and met about 20 in person.
All were polite and friendly. I think the key to that was my being careful in the screening process, in chatting online, and when meeting up.

Only one guy had posted an outdated picture, not horrendously off, it just hid some greying hair and small weight gain. Another guy had said his smoking was "occasional" when really it was frequent.

But these little inconveniences didn't push me away from online dating because I’d met so many nice, attractive, interesting men. It just taught me there was something specific I was looking for; I just had to find him.
I did get into a one-year relationship with one nice guy, but it didn't work out. I was ready to give up when I thought I'd give try one site a three-month subscription. After all, my cousin and my brother both married women they'd met online.
Then it happened. I met him. And now we're engaged to be married next May. There was no way we'd have met if we hadn't both been using the same dating site as we had very different social lives, careers, and hobbies.

So Grateful

I’ve included your story because of the important tips to having more chances for a successful online experience:

1. Be selective about whom you contact.
2. Remain just as selective, plus alert to information clues gained in your chats.
3. Continue this careful screening even when you meet. But don’t be judgmental about small deviations, only the ones that really count (such as smoking if it’s a no-no to you).
4. Keep a positive attitude. It’s the most important requirement for wading through the mass numbers of potential dates online, and weaning out the ones you feel uncertain about.

While my mom, who’s 80, suffers from memory loss, she’s still well functioning day to day, especially with the help of my dad. She’s in good physical health except for some sight loss in one eye. They’re still managing well independently.
However, her hygiene isn’t good. She often wears stained/sweaty clothing and her hair obviously hasn’t been washed for days. We’ve tried speaking to her about putting clothes in the hamper at the end of the day, but she forgets very quickly. Dad doesn't think it's serious enough to intervene.
We’ve offered to bring her to the hair salon once a week, but she finds that frivolous and refuses. All frank discussions go unremembered, but she’s not incapacitated enough to have us physically wash her.
I'm hoping you and your readers can provide some creative ideas to help with mom's hygiene as well as passing on any insight. I'm new at this aging parents thing and perhaps I need to look at it differently.

Concerned

Dear Readers – This aging mom and her family need our help. From my own family experience, I know there are some community agencies that send in a personal care assistant once weekly at a fairly moderate fee to do just what’s needed here… bathing and laundry. Also, daughters should be able to take mom to lunch and then have a group “hairdo” session at a salon, as a fun outing (be discreet about the cost).

But if Mom and Dad refuse some ideas, some other creative solutions are needed. Please send yours!

So I've had a crush on this guy forever. I’m now going into Grade 11 in high school.

We always text each other, he flirts, we've even kissed before. But I'm not really sure if he likes me. He always has a girlfriend or is talking to someone and I'm left stranded on the side.

But I don't know if he's leading me on. I really like him. What do you think of this situation?

Confused in Texas

He’s a popular guy so he realizes he doesn’t need to settle on one girl, and also isn’t ready for a long-term girlfriend, or he’d have one. But he obviously wants to keep you as a friend. That’s okay, but don’t take it as a promise of anything more.

Get to know other guys, too. And don’t allow yourself to be “stranded” by him or anyone else. Have the confidence to smile and walk away.