DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been happily married for 35 years and have three grown children, a son and two daughters. We have always gotten along very well, and the kids were always close to each other.
My son, "Joseph," is a Ph.D. psychologist, and so is his wife, "Rene." We are very proud of them both. But they have this "thing" about their mail being addressed to them as "Dr." even when it's sent to their house. This includes birthday cards, and my two daughters are having a tough time with it. They feel their brother is distancing himself from them. (He also lives two hours away from the rest of us.) Quite frankly, I agree.
We believe his wife is leading him. She says she "doesn't feel like a sister" to my two daughters. Please give me your thoughts on this. Our family is not the same. --CONCERNED DAD IN NEW YORK
DEAR CONCERNED DAD: I think your problem lies closer to home, namely the attitude of your daughters. Your son and his wife have earned the right to have their mail addressed as "Dr. and Dr." and that is how their mail should "properly" be addressed. This would be a small step in the right direction for your daughters, with the added benefit of possibly warming up your daughter-in-law.