An expectant couple’s disagreement over hyphenating their baby’s last name brings questions of equality to the forefront. While the mother believes a dual name honors fairness, the father finds the idea impractical. Their dilemma captures the complexities of modern parenthood and identity.

A sister’s breakup with her ex-fiancé has left relatives uncertain about how to bridge the growing distance. In a regular advice column by Carolyn Hax, readers are asked to consider possible resolutions for this fractured family. The situation raises questions about how personal choices can affect everyone involved.