DEAR SOLE SISTERS

My grey hair is mousy and frizzy. I am of two minds. I can continue to color and highlight my hair as usual, or I could start to highlight and color my hair a tone of grey that suits my complexion. How do I handle this transition?

Rachel is 55, independent and facing surgery—but her daughter worries she’ll need a live-in caregiver while she is recovering. How much help is enough, and why can accepting it feel so hard? 

Bernice is enjoying sex and intimacy again for the first time in a long time, but recurring post-sex UTIs are making her post menopausal sex life painfully complicated.

Wanda is up and ready to enjoy retirement by 9 a.m., but her husband barely gets moving before noon! Should she wait for him or start having adventures without him?

The menopause moustache has arrived, and I'm losing the battle! Waxing, shaving, creams... nothing works! Has anyone found a way to get rid of those pesky hairs?

Browless Brenda’s eyebrows are disappearing, and she’s wondering whether eyebrow tattoos will look natural on older skin.

Estranged from my daughter, my heart aches. Despite reaching out and letting go of the past, she won't respond. How do I cope or reconnect?

It's hard to believe at 58, this is happening. This is a friend who I have known since I was 15. We share so much history. At my age, who does this?? This reminds me of high school mean-girl behavior.

I think I’m being discriminated against at work because of my age!! The challenging assignments that used to come my way no longer do. I’m being left out of client meetings. I want to scream, “I’m still here; I’m still great at my job!!”

I am in my mid 50s, divorced and new to the dating world. I signed myself up for a speed dating event. My question is: what would you ask to determine a potential partner’s character, morals and values when you only have seven minutes? 

I think I have been dropped by my friend group! Is this normal at 55? I met this group of women when our kids were young. Lately though I have been feeling left out. Why do I care so much? Do I confront them or do I just let it go?

Sometimes he falls asleep on the sofa while watching TV. I quietly head upstairs and try to fall asleep before he comes to bed. But most nights, I lie awake listening to him snore while my irritation slowly builds into anger.

I'm just going to say it - vaginal dryness! I know it is a symptom of menopause, so I'm not worried anything else is happening. However, that does not discount the everyday discomfort, the itchiness, and the painful sex. 

I’ve always prided myself on being hip, being with it and being able to keep up with the latest and greatest. Not anymore … can someone please explain ChatGPT to me!!

I'm tired of being a peacekeeper, mainly with the men in my life. Between my partner, my grown boys, and my ex-husband, I always seem in the middle, smoothing things and helping everyone get along. I have learned if I don't step in, there will be hell to pay.

Vagina… there I said it! Shaving, sugaring, laser, or electrolysis? Is there something else I should know about? There are so many options, from clean up to bikini to landing strip to Brazilian or full. What do I choose?

Menopausal night sweats! I wake up drenched, looking like I have run a marathon in my sleep and my bed turns into a waterpark!! This nightly torment leaves me exhausted, making my daytime activities and tasks feel like insurmountable chores. 

I have zero interest in sex. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband. I just have zero desire to be intimate with him. It’s nothing personal, I have zero desire to be intimate with anyone.

I feel so good in the morning. By evening my middle section has expanded to the point where I can barely keep my pants done up. If I go out to a restaurant it is even worse. The minute I walk out the gas comes and boy does it ever come!

I think my 30 year old daughter's boyfriend is totally wrong for her and taking advantage of her. He is unemployed and doesn’t have any ambition. I want to say something to her but am so afraid that she may not talk to me again.