Daughter’s choices make it harder to help
DEAR ABBY: My daughter has decided to leave her husband. They have been married for 20 years. She says she hasn’t been happy for several years and that it’s time to take care of herself. She won’t be able to support herself and the children, but she doesn’t seem able to grasp that reality. When I voice my concerns, she gets angry with me. She’s determined to go forward with this separation and says her kids will be “fine.” I say that’s bull! She has also embraced an exercise and eating plan that seems radical to me and has a life coach who is also a psychic. I think she’s having a midlife crisis.
If it weren’t for what this is going to do to my grandchildren, I’d keep my mouth shut, but I’m sick with worry. Her siblings think she has lost her mind, so she has pretty much cut herself off from the family. When she became frustrated because she wasn’t able to qualify for a house she wanted to rent, she lashed out at me. I’m waiting for an apology, but I’m realistic that I’ll probably never get one. I feel like I’m in mourning over the loss of this child. What do I do? — SHAKEN UP IN TEXAS
DEAR SHAKEN UP: We thanked him, he laid Your daughter is an adult. down a $100 bill and disappeared. By now you must have We enjoyed realized you can no longer a great dinner and left control her behavior. For the change ($35) for the the sake of your own mental server. We would like health, accept that she’s to thank that nice gentleman going to make her own again. He made mistakes. Do not accept our day.— GRATEFUL financial responsibility for IN GEORGIA your daughter. Be as supportive DEAR GRATEFUL: of your grandchildren Your letter made MY day. as you can be, because Occasionally, I print letters at some point you may about acts of kindness, and have to take them in. yours definitely qualifies.
As for her “psychic life You and your friend were coach,” you should know performing a good deed that unlike physicians, by taking your friend for psychologists and social lunch, and it was paid forward workers, life coaches do in record time. It’s not belong to any organization nice knowing there are that requires them to good people out there. adhere to ethical standards. Thank you for sharing. Your daughter should be Dear Abby is written made aware that there by Abigail Van Buren, also may be some risk involved known as Jeanne Phillips, in placing her future in that and was founded by her person’s hands. mother, Pauline Phillips.
DEAR ABBY: A dear Contact Dear Abby at
friend and I decided www.DearAbby.com or
to visit our old friend, P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles,
“Carol,” who has been CA 90069.
in an assisted-living What teens need to
facility for a year. Carol know about sex, drugs,
has some dementia, but AIDS and getting along
we took her — arm in with peers and parents
arm — to a pizza restaurant is in “What Every Teen at our mall. After Should Know.” Send your
we were seated and name and mailing address,
browsing the menu, a plus check or money order
very handsome gentleman for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear approached Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O.
our table. He said we Box 447, Mount Morris, IL
reminded him of his 61054-0447. (Shipping and
mother and insisted on handling are included in
treating us to dinner. the price.)