DEAR ABBY: Hi. I'm writing about the relationship between my dad and me. I'm 13 and my parents are divorced. They are now married to different people.
My dad forgot all about me for the first five years of my life. I finally got in touch with him and visited him for a few weekends, but now he doesn't answer my phone calls. He won't talk to me because he lost his job and owes almost $1,000 in child support. I think he's afraid to answer my calls because he thinks we're going to cuss at him about the child support, when all I really want to do is talk to him.
I've tried writing to him, but he doesn't write back. What can I do besides calling him or writing him? Please give me your advice. -- LONESOME TEEN IN RIVERSIDE, MO.
P.S. My stepdad hates me. I'm not comfortable with him.
DEAR LONELY TEEN: Sometimes people become parents before they're completely grown up themselves. Try to be patient with your father. Having lost his job and fallen behind in his child support, he may consider himself a failure and be ashamed to face you.
Write him one more note and say: "Dad, I need you to be part of my life. Just hearing from you is more important than money. I love you." Then cross your fingers. If you don't hear from him, the fault is his -- and it's no reflection on you.