Missing face time

My husband and I are in our 70s, and he is experiencing depression from lack of contact with his children. I don’t mean Facebook, because he sees them on there. They do not call like they did in the past. I am sure they feel that since he can actually see them on the screen, he knows what they are up to and what they are doing. Thus, they think this is all we need to do.

We do not text either. We used to FaceTime but not anymore. When he calls them, usually he can only leave a message because they rarely answer the phone. If he does get hold of them, the typical response is that they are busy but they will call back, and then they almost never do. We do not live in the same state, so we don’t see them often.

New technology is wonderful for many things, but whatever happened to actually hearing someone say, “I love you, Dad,” or “I love you, Grandpa”? I am sure we are not the only people who are feeling left behind with the new tech world. — Hope to Hear One Day

It is understandable that your husband’s feeling disconnected from his children is causing sadness. But I am not so sure that it is technology’s fault so much as the fault of miscommunication. Technology is a blessing and a curse — a blessing because it makes communication instant and easy, and a curse because it throws up a barrier to interactions that only come from being together in person. I would encourage you and your husband to plan a trip to visit his children face to face and talk to them. Tell them how much you enjoy talking on the phone and hearing their voices. Communicating via text and social media is no way to maintain a relationship, especially an important and special one with wonderful parents.

I have a daughter who is a lovely person but has become very bossy and super opinionated. She has not always been this way. She is married, but she and my son-in-law have no children.

My problem is that every time she comes home, she rearranges the items in my pantry and refrigerator and throws things away. She’s very critical. So far as I know, she doesn’t treat others this way. And my other children do not act this way with me. What do you think is motivating this, and what do you suggest I do? — Miffed Mom

I’d be willing to wager that your daughter is checking for expired foods and getting rid of them out of concern for you. Even so, there’s no need for the criticism, and she really should ask your permission before throwing anything away. Talk to her about how this makes you feel. Acknowledge that you appreciate her desire to help but you don’t appreciate the way in which she conducts these pantry purges. Set some boundaries you can live with. In the end, it is your house, your rules. Your daughter should respect that.

“Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie” is out now! Annie Lane’s debut book — featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http:// www.creatorspublishing. com for more information.

ACROSS

1 Awesome, in

show biz 6 Dorian Gray

creator Oscar 11 Splash gently, as

waves 14 Toothbrush

brand 15 Upscale Honda 16 “__ been

thinking” 17 *Program for an

idle monitor 19 Unfavorable

critique 20 Chad neighbor 21 Clarifying words 22 *Rustic 26 Female foxes 29 Like wine casks 30 Rowing needs 31 Buffalo NHLer 33 Michael of “SNL” 36 Supermarket

initials 37 *Distinctive Jay Leno facial feature 39 “2001” computer 40 Playpen item 41 Olympian Bolt 42 Quarters for lions 43 Large, at

Starbucks 45 Tiny bit 47 *Squeaky-clean 51 In addition 52 Act out, as a Civil

War battle 56 Mai __ 57 Significant other, often, and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues 60 Game with Skip

cards 61 Eisenhower opponent Stevenson 62 Playful swimming

mammal 63 Bic, for one 64 Mild Dutch

cheese 65 Gardener’s

concerns

DOWN

1 Pear from France 2 Killer whale 3 Word before

hand or land 4 Pulls a scam on 5 “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” king 6 Aired, as a TV

program 7 “__ help it” 8 Candy heart verb 9 Dr. of rap 10 Has an __ to the

ground 11 Mouthed the

words 12 Benefit 13 Pasta in vodka

sauce 18 Entre __:

between us 21 Snacked 23 Bird associated

with spring 24 Knitter’s ball 25 __-Ball: arcade

game 26 Sports ball brand 27 “Othello” villain 28 Superman super

power 31 Suitor 32 __ Baba 34 Dangle 35 “Anything __?”:

“Is there more?” 37 Trash 38 “The Thin Man”

dog 42 Breakfast nook,

e.g. 44 Prefix with friendly 45 Humane org. 46 Bone tissue 47 Suddenly took

notice 48 Vehicle that taxis 49 Not look forward

to at all 50 Photo finish 53 Pay to play 54 Miffed, with “off” 55 Drops the ball 57 Fall behind 58 Wedding vow

words 59 Illness with its

own season

Technology is a blessing and a curse — a blessing because it makes communication instant and easy, and a curse because it throws up a barrier to interactions that only come from being together in person.