DEAR ABBY: I'm a 43-year-old single mom of 16-month-old twins and in the midst of a career change. I will be entering the legal profession. Some people have told me that courts and lawyers tend to be "conservative" and may frown on single mothers.
My question is, should I wear a ring on my left hand without saying anything about my marital status? Of course, if asked directly, I will say I am not married. But would simply wearing a ring on the third finger of my left hand (perhaps my boys' birthstone?) be considered disingenuous or dishonest? -- PUT A RING ON IT? IN NEBRASKA
DEAR PUT A RING ON IT?: Because of advances in the field of reproductive medicine, women both married and single have been able to safely have children at later ages. However, one of the interesting things about motherhood is that no one can tell by looking who is -- or isn't -- one. Unless you walk into court and announce that you are a single mother, your personal life should not be a distraction to anyone, whether the person is conservative or liberal. There is no disgrace in being a single parent if you can afford to feed and educate the children you have, so stop worrying you'll be labeled with a scarlet letter.
P.S. I see no reason to "put a ring on it" if it's a lie.