These friends are no prize

Q First, I apologize to you and your readers for being about to use the deeply offensive pejorative term, “trophy” wife.

It’s not my term. I don’t view my spouse as a marital commodity — to me, she’s a loving, affectionate, beautiful and exceptionally caring human being. I married this woman whom I believe is the love of my life. I got married later in life, because I’ve always viewed marriage breakdowns as a personal and moral failure.

My immediate family (parents and siblings) and my inlaws have been unconditionally supportive. But my extended family and close friends have been reluctant to accept my wife, perhaps due to her youthful appearance and age (a few decades younger than I am).

Those people are married with teenage kids and some are divorced raising kids as single parents. They are calling me a “cradle-robber,” “show-off with a trophy wife,” even suggesting that my wife has “daddy issues.”

Some have expressed disdain toward my wife behind our backs. Should I limit communication with these people or just cut them off our lives totally? — Fed Up With Critics

A It seems you were a lot wiser at choosing a wife than you were at choosing friends. These ones seem rude and likely jealous, too.

If your wife doesn’t care what these people think, withdraw from closeness with them and see them only if and when the occasion warrants it. But if their opinions also hurt and offend her, cut contact, period.

There are plenty of fine, intelligent, warm, embracing people out there. Your immediate families are the prime example.