New mother is not in the mood for husband’s entreaties for intimacy

Dear Abby: I am a firsttime mommy of a beautiful 2 1/2-month-old little boy. I should also mention that I’m 40 years old. My husband is constantly asking for sex. I mean, every day. I honestly do not feel like having it. I’m so worn out by the day-to-day chores of being a wife and motherhood that when the baby goes to sleep, I go to sleep immediately.

My husband refuses to understand how exhausted I am, and his constantly asking for sex makes me want it even less. So, basically, I’m asking what can I do?

— Touchy Subject in

West Virginia

Dear Touchy: You and your husband are overdue for a frank talk. Sit him down and explain EXACTLY

what you need from him. Tell him you need his help so the entire burden of taking care of his home and his baby isn’t entirely on your shoulders. After you have finished doing that, point out that if he contributes to the household tasks and baby duties, it will take the pressure off you and make it more likely that you can relax and get in the mood for something more pleasant.

Dear Abby: My son is in an abusive marriage. He is verbally, mentally and emotionally abused by his wife constantly. She does everything she can to force him to leave. She tells him it is her house and she wants him to go. They bought the house together, and they both work and pay the bills. He won’t leave because he doesn’t want to leave his kids. Is there any kind of support?

Dear Dad: The National Domestic Violence

Hotline (thehotline.org; 1-800-799-7233) and

Stop Abuse for Everyone (stopabuseforeveryone.org) serve victims of abuse.