DEAR ABBY: I am 10 years old and live with my mom, my sister and brother in Texas. My grandparents and my aunt live nearby, and they come over a lot. They are always telling me how important it is to visit my dad and his family in Chicago and to have a good relationship with them.
Abby, I spend six weeks with my dad every summer -- and I don't want to go there any more. Dad never keeps his promises to me, and he is always threatening me with "the belt." I am afraid of him. My Chicago grandparents tell me they love me more than my Texas grandparents, but they don't call me very often, and I hate that they say bad things about my mom.
How can I get out of visiting my dad next summer? -- SICK OF VISITING MY DAD
DEAR SICK OF VISITING: If you haven't already done so, tell your mother how you feel and why. Your mother should speak to your father and explain that his form of discipline is not only not working, but it's driving you away and is emotionally abusive. She should also speak to the lawyer who represented her in the divorce about the visitation arrangement. Perhaps your visit should be supervised. Please show your mother this letter.