By ANN GRIES My boyfriend and I have been living together for three years. I am ready to get married, but he isn't sure he is ready for such a big commitment. Is commitment really that important in marriage? L. S. Commitment is very important in marriage.

By ANN GRIES I am worried about having a good marriage if I ever decide to marry. My parents divorced, and I have struggled to trust others in any kind of relationship. I still have feelings of anger toward my parents for breaking up our family.

By ANN GRIES I read your column recently and except for the "small kids" to worry about, it could have been written by me. We will become "empty nesters" in the fall, and it just magnifies all the issues we have. We've been married more than 20 years.

By ANN GRIES If the marriage is failing and one spouse wants counseling and the other doesn't, what does one do? H.C., Evansville When one spouse in a marriage wants counseling, that usually means it is time to get counseling. I will assume you are the one who wants to go to counseling.

By ANN GRIES I read your article about saying "I'm sorry" in marriage.