Adult children fail to warm to stepdad
DEAR ABBY >> I was married for 19 years and have three adult daughters from that marriage. I remarried eight years ago to a woman who has two adult children. My relationship with them is not good, in spite of my efforts to engage them in basic conversation. She told me recently that neither one of them likes me. In fact, she has suggested I just say hello and goodbye and leave it at that.
I’m not sure what I am supposed to do with this information. I don’t think at this point in my life (age 66) I’m interested in changing myself to coax anybody to like me. I’m irritated with my wife for telling me her kids don’t like me. If any of my daughters
HOROSCOPES
Aries (March 21-April
19): When people mean well but don’t make the impact they hope to, it’s usually a function of misreading the situation or simply not knowing enough about it. The best move you can make now is to sit tight and learn all you can.
Taurus (April 20-May
20): In nature, the bull goes with the herd; it suits the bull and it suits the herd. But if it doesn’t suit the bull, the bull leaves. Be the same. Only stick with the herd if it is what’s in your heart.
Gemini (May 21-June
21): There you go again, moving forward as if un- said, “I don’t like your wife,” I wouldn’t mention it to her because I know she wouldn’t want to go with me to visit them. My desire to visit either of her kids is now nonexistent. Your thoughts? DEAR UNLIKED >> I think it is interesting that your wife didn’t tell you WHY her children don’t like you, or if she did, that you didn’t elaborate. Under the circumstances, your reaction is understandable, so stay home and enjoy yourself while your wife visits them. If you do, I suspect you will all be happier.
DEAR ABBY >> My wife and I just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary and went away for a long weekend. Late in the second day, my wife said, “Don’t get mad at me, but a guy who works for me asked me to bring afraid. What the onlookers don’t know is your internal dialogue and how you quiver inside your boots. And that’s what makes you truly brave. You feel the fear and do it anyway. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Public speaking iseasierforsomethan others. There will be shy ones who aren’t sure if it’s worth the trouble to stand and be counted. You’ve felt like that in the past, which is why you’ll be a most encouraging presence.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): There are some decisions you’ll make that you’ll never really know the consequences of. That’s him a souvenir.” Then she told me she didn’t want to get me involved.
My question is, why wouldn’t she mention it at the start of the trip and instead bring it up two days into our getaway? It makes me feel like she was thinking of him on our anniversary. Am I reading too much into this, or should I be concerned? By the way, I wouldn’t think of another woman — coworker or not — during a getaway with my wife. DEAR UNSURE >> Please stop worrying. If you and your bride have had a happy marriage for 30 years, I’m guessing that on your special day, she was thinking about how lucky the two of you are to have had three blessed decades together. If she had anything to hide, she wouldn’t have mentioned the souvenir. I’m why today it will be most satisfying to get evidence that a choice you made long ago was the right one. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept.
22): Bringing people together will be your specialty today, though you may not be consciously aware that it’s what you’re doing. Your inclusiveness starts a ripple of happy effects. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct.
23): What you see is not only what you get; it’s what you’ll keep getting. So if you don’t like it, make a quick change. It will be way easier to set things on track in the early stages of an arrangement.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. guessing she brought it up because she didn’t want to forget she had agreed to bring something and come home empty-handed.
DEAR ABBY >> My boyfriend of 12 years worries me. He’s a man who wants life to be like he wants it to be, not like it is. He thinks everyone owes him a discount on whatever he’s buying. He can talk for what seems like a month, and while he never really lies, he never exactly tells the truth. This puts a huge strain on our relationship.
I love him, but I don’t trust him. I have caught him in many discrepancies. When confronted, he sometimes will own up to them. What should I do? DEAR NERVOUS >> I think in your heart you already
21): The best ones to spend time with today will fall into one of two categories. Either they are people you’re sure to have fun with, or they are people who genuinely need you.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 21): For some, loneliness is a palpable problem, an actual chill that your fire sign energy can thaw with the stretch of a smile. Don’t underestimate the good a little warmth and kindness can do. Capricorn (Dec. 22Jan. 19): They’re better because of you, and this much they’ll tell you. Nothing could be more soulfortifying than knowing know what you should do. If you can’t trust someone, there is no basis for a meaningful relationship. I wish you had written me about this 11 ½ years ago, when ending the romance would have been less painful. you improved the lives of those closest to you. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.
18): People make mistakes, but people are not their mistakes. For learning purposes, separate the person from the deed. Examine each factor separately and then reassemble and reconsider.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March
20): Beforeyouleave the house, or go into any dealings at all, consciously set an expectation for what’s to come. In doing so, you’ll take a more assertive, conscious role and get clearer outcomes as a result.