Mom stays close to married son through a tracking app

Dear Abby: I have been married to my husband for five years. We live in the same town as my in-laws, and for the most part, we get along great. However, my mother-in-law uses an app to track my husband.

She’ll often text or call him to ask why he’s going to the store, or what he was doing when he was late to work. Once he tried to remove the app, but she quickly noticed and confronted him. My husband caved and reinstalled it. Since then, he says it doesn’t really bother him.

Part of me feels that if he wants to let his mother track him, that’s his business. But another part of me feels this is an invasion of my privacy as well, since we are together much of the time. It also worries me that he’s so quick to cave to his mother’s demands. Am I wrong to be upset about this? What can I do to get my mother-in-law to give us some privacy? —

Uneasy In Kansas

Dear Uneasy: You’re not wrong. His mother is using the tracker as a substitute for the umbilical cord that should have been severed when her son was born. It’s a huge invasion of your and your husband’s privacy.

He is so used to caving in to his mother that he doesn’t have the strength to assert himself. I do not think you should take your mother-inlaw on by yourself. Enlist the help of a licensed marriage and family therapist for suggestions about how to create some separation, because that process may be somewhat complicated.

Dear Abby: My relationship with my boyfriend has been wonderful, except for one issue. He wants us to have a three-way with another woman. Even after I let him know I’m not bisexual, he has suggested it multiple times. It has left me feeling as though I will never be enough.

I find this extremely hurtful. I love my boyfriend and don’t want to end the relationship, but I don’t want to be with someone I can never satisfy (he has mentioned he plans to propose).

What do you think? If any male readers have insight, I’d love to hear from them as well. — Not Enough Dear Not Enough: What your boyfriend has suggested is a common male fantasy. I wonder if he would react the same way if you suggested a threesome with another man.

Because this isn’t your cup of tea, you are right to have refused. What concerns me is what you think is going to happen if the two of you should marry, because this issue will not go away once the “I do’s” are over. As you requested, I will let male readers weigh in on this one, but personally, I think the time has come to resume your search for Mr. Right.