DEAR ABBY: I was appalled at your answer to "Old-Fashioned and Glad of It." She was complaining that her son's wife did not cook. Why didn't you tell her that she should have taught her son how to cook?
Today boys need domestic survival skills as much as girls do. My 12-year-old son knows enough about cooking so he will never be dependent on someone else to serve him.
With more women working outside the home these days, it is unrealistic to expect the woman to have the master's dinner ready when he comes home. In our household, the person who has the most time cooks the meal, and does the laundry, vacuuming, etc. -- HAPPY WITH A '90S HOME LIFE
DEAR HAPPY: That letter stirred up a hornet's nest. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: I have a message for "Old-Fashioned and Glad of It," the woman who complained that her son's wife did not even know how to boil water: MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
How her son and his wife live is their business. I had a mother-in-law who thought things should be done her way, and that women should be the workhorses. Needless to say, my husband and I are separated.
He moved back in with his mother 12 years ago and has remained there ever since. She's in her late 70s and still cooking him his wholesome meals, cleaning his room and doing his laundry. Her "baby boy" was 51 years old this year.
Maybe "Old-Fashioned's" daughter-in-law is saving her energy for things that are more important to her son than cooking. -- MODERN AND GLAD OF IT