DEAR ABBY: My husband is constantly complaining about the cost of groceries. He recently graduated from college and now works in the corporate world making substantially more than he did before. I'm 16 weeks pregnant, but before I quit my job I was working full time and would buy all the groceries. Now that my husband shares an account with me, he constantly makes me feel bad for buying food.
Abby, I'm not talking about $300 a week; it's more like $70 a week for food. Yet he spends twice that amount on beer, video games and lunches for himself. I have told him numerous times how horrible he makes me feel, and have even cried about it, but today he brought up the topic again. He is making me depressed and afraid of buying food for fear of being mocked and "guilted." What am I to do? -- THE COST OF GROCERIES
DEAR COST: Your husband should be ashamed of himself. The next time he complains, stand your ground and tell him in no uncertain terms it's time to grow up and cut it out. He's no longer a kid; he's a married man with responsibilities. Those groceries are feeding his wife and child, and you both need all the nourishment you can get right now.
Also, stress for a woman in your expectant condition isn't good for you or the baby. I think it's time the guilt trip worked both ways, don't you?