Am I the bad guy, Uncle Gary?

"Well, Steve was so kind to me when my child died." I immediately lose my mind! Uncle Gary, I did not argue about Steve's perceived kindness. I let it go, but it really bothers me that people would think him a good guy. 

I’m five months postpartum with our second child...

I’m five months postpartum with our second child, and I’ve been carrying around about 40 extra pounds from the pregnancy.

Uncle Gary

AskUncleGary.com, an independent publication launched in 2025 by Gary Domasin, an advice columnist and contributing writer to SoCalMag.com, educator, and supportive uncle you wish you had.

Am I out of line...

I got into a bit of a blowout with my mother-in-law after I asked my husband to run to the store and grab me some tampons last night. Personally, I didn’t think it was a big deal, and neither did he.

I’m 38, single, and I’ve built a life that looks pretty good on paper...

I never really wanted the white-picket-fence life, but now I’m wondering if I skipped too many chapters.

Is my hygiene routine...

My fiancé is super particular about cleanliness; he showers daily, sometimes even twice. Meanwhile, I tend to shower every other day and wash my hair every 3–4 days.

What do most people misunderstand about getting older?

Most young people think that getting older is a decline. It isn’t. It’s a refinement. We’re sold a narrative that aging means becoming less relevant, less desirable, less capable. In reality, what diminishes is tolerance for nonsense, for misaligned relationships, for chasing approval.

I was a research scientist...

Dear Uncle Gary, I was a research scientist at a major pharmaceutical company until I got laid off. My wife is an attorney at a top law firm, and she’s doing very well. When the layoff happened, we talked it through and agreed I’d stay home with the

I was laid off last month...

Dear Uncle Gary, I was laid off last month from my job as a university administrator. I didn’t tell my wife right away because I truly believed I’d find something quickly and then explain it once I had good news to soften the blow. But here we are,

I’m a 65-year-old woman...

Dear Uncle Gary, I’m a 65-year-old woman who’s been divorced for over a decade. I raised two kids, built a career, and now I’m retired with a little house, a garden I love, and more quiet than I know what to do with. Here’s the thing.

I feel this weird mix of joy and jealousy.

Dear Uncle Gary, My best friend just got engaged, and I am genuinely happy for her. But every time I hear her talk about the wedding, I feel this weird mix of joy and jealousy. I am single, I have not been on a real date in over a year,

I recently started dating a guy...

Dear Uncle Gary, I recently started dating a guy who’s sweet, smart, and has the kind of jawline that could slice deli meat. But here’s the thing: he claps when the plane lands. Every time. Loudly. With enthusiasm. I tried to ignore it, but last week he stood