Boyfriend jumping into stepfather role
DEAR ABBY: My husband’s brother split from his wife, “Charlotte,” five years ago and now lives in another country. The brothers are still quite close. His school-age daughters live nearby and are close to our daughters.
Charlotte’s latest boyfriend has started insisting on hanging out with my husband and trying to “bond” with him. He is also jumping with both feet into the role of stepfather, especially with the younger daughter, who has just returned after living with her fatherforsevenmonths.
It feels awkward and weird, but we are too polite to say anything to him or Charlotte because we’re afraid she’ll restrict us from seeing our nieces. What is your advice? — Anxious in Australia
DEAR ANXIOUS: Not knowing the terms of your brother-in-law’s divorce, my advice is to consider that this man may be trying to form a relationship with your husband because he wants to bond with “the relatives.” Your husband doesn’t have to be best friends with him, but he should keep the relationship cordial — not only for the nieces, but so his brother can stay informed about them.
DEAR ABBY: Ihaveanaddiction to vitamin gummies. Theysaytoeattwoaday,but I eat almost half a container aday.
This has been a problem for five years. What should I do? I’m about to graduate from high school, and I think my new college friends will think I’m weird. — Loves Yummy Gummies in Pennsylvania
DEAR LOVES: Your vitamins are NOT candy. It is important that you discuss this with your doctor. The least of your troubles could be that your college friends makefunofyou.whatyou have been doing can cause vitamin A, vitamin E and minerals like iron to reach toxic levels in your system.
DEAR ABBY: Ihaveasuggestion about how to help thechildwiththebroken glasses mentioned in the letter from “Trying to Help in the West.” I’m a member of Lions Clubs International. Our local club donates the cost of visual screening and free glasses for those in need.
In 1925, Helen Keller inspiredtheclubstobecome “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Since then, Lions have worked to aid visually impaired individuals all over the world. Services for the boy should be available in his area, or he can be directed to the closest Lions Club. — Member in West Long Branch, N.J.
DEAR MEMBER: Thank you for reminding me about the good work the Lions
Clubs do. Anyone wanting further information can find it at www.lionsclubs.org.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. Dearabby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.