No need to stress about Father’s Day

Dear Abby: I am the father of four. I divorced after my third child was born, and I got custody. I have been with my girlfriend, “Wanda,” for six years, and we now have a daughter together.

Last year, Father’s Day came and went, and Wanda didn’t acknowledge it. I didn’t even hear a “Happy Father’s Day” from her or my youngest child. (My ex-wife acknowledged me.)

I always go above and beyond for Wanda on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and her birthday, but now, for the first time in our relationship, I felt small and hurt. She apologized the next day and said she forgot it was Father’s Day.

I went through a brutal divorce and fought hard to gain custody of my kids, and raised them on my own for a while. I’m afraid, maybe irrationally, that this Father’s Day will be the same. Am I overthinking this? — Unacknowledged In Oklahoma

Dear Unacknowledged:

Dear Abby: I live in an over-55 community in Florida. A woman I’ll call Betty totally ignores me when I pass her on the street or in the clubhouse. If we’re at a luncheon together, she won’t acknowledge me. Yet, when she sees my husband, she’ll kiss him hello (on the cheek) and he’ll respond warmly.

I have talked to my husband about how Betty treats me and asked him to back off from her. I’m not suggesting he ignore her, but it isn’t necessary to kiss her. He has told me I’m being juvenile and, frankly, I’m annoyed. Should I be?

— Put Off in Palm Beach

Dear Put Off: You and Betty are never going to be buddies. The next time you see this classless individual, tell her that if she wants to show affection, she should do it with her own husband, not yours.

Dear Abby: My father and his wife use each other’s cellphones interchangeably when they text me. While the number that pops up on my phone might be Dad’s, it could just as easily be “Caroline” on the other end.

I have asked them to clarify who I’m talking to before I start texting back, but they are offended and say I should be able to answer either of them the same way so it doesn’t matter who I’m texting. Sometimes I suspect one of them is pretending to be the other. What should I do in this situation? — Who’s Texting?

Dear Who’s Texting: People have a right to know with whom they are communicating. I suppose the way to handle it would be to ask, “Is this Dad, Caroline or ‘Dadoline’?” and not respond until you get an answer.