Dancer pines for her partner

Dear Abby: I am a middle-aged divorcee. I recently took up ballroom dancing and I’m enjoying my life. However, there are few single men my age around.

From Day One, I have had a crush on one of the few men my age in the dance group. We eventually became best friends, spending all our free time together. I soon learned that he is married, but separated and looking to divorce. However, he has a crush of his own, and he talks to me about her constantly.

I realize it isn’t healthy for me to pine away for someone who doesn’t think of me the way I think of him. Yet walking away would mean losing my dance partner and best friend and going back to watching from the sidelines.

Do I maintain the status quo and suffer in silence over his rejection? Or would it be healthier to move on?

– Dancing Away in Pennsylvania Dear Dancing: Because of the pandemic, leave things as they are – for now. However, as soon as it’s feasible, find another dance group – or two – to join.

Dear Abby: My ex-wife, my son’s mother, moved out a few years back and settled about six hours from us. We did halfway trips in the beginning so they could maintain a relationship.

Over the last two years, her interest has diminished, and they haven’t seen each other at all.

Our son is now entering his teens, and I bought him a cellphone. She has his number, but doesn’t call or text. She even missed his birthday. My problem is, he has started to recognize her lack of interest, and I can tell it hurts. Please advise.

– Sane Dad in Maryland

Dear Dad: You are a loving and constant father. I think it’s important your son knows he can talk to you about anything and get honest answers. Something is clearly wrong with his mother. He should not go through life thinking her behavior was caused by anything lacking in himself, so if and when the subject comes up, answer his questions as kindly as you can.