DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are very happy. However, his mother is an intrusive pest. I am a stay-at-home mom, and she calls all day long. When I answer, I get an earful about how often her son calls or doesn't call her, or she finds fault with the things I do with my children. If I don't answer, she comes over to our house.
The other day, she knew that I was going to my mom's office to drop some stuff off and help her with some things. When I arrived, there was my husband's mother, sitting there waiting for me. Also, when my husband confides in her –- like when I got pregnant –- she takes it upon herself to call my family and announce it instead of allowing me to tell them myself.
I love my husband. We are happy together. But I have reached the point where I'm beginning to consider divorce in order to get away from his mother. He has offered to speak to her, but I feel bad because I know she'll know I asked him to say something. What should I do? -- TEARING MY HAIR OUT
DEAR TEARING: You have described a lonely, needy person with too much time on her hands. Rather than expecting you to entertain her, she needs to get a life of her own. Your husband should talk to his mother and encourage her to find other interests. If she blames you, so be it. However, he would be doing her a favor to help her investigate what activities and opportunities are available for seniors in your community in case she's so passive she doesn't know how to reach out.