DEAR ABBY: I have been dating "Wayne" for about a year. Everything is wonderful, but my problem is he is stingy when it comes to issuing a compliment. I'll get dressed up -- makeup, hair, the whole thing -- and ask him what he thinks, and his response is always, "It's OK. You always look beautiful to me, so you don't have to dress up."
Maybe I shouldn't complain about this, but sometimes I feel Wayne would say I looked good if I were sick and vomiting into a toilet. It's not like I want him to say I look awful; I just want more of a response than what I'm getting. Any ideas on how to approach this? -- ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL? IN MINNESOTA
DEAR ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL: Yes. Approach your boyfriend directly. Tell him there is something you need from him that you're not getting -- and that is acknowledgment when you make a special effort. Explain that while you're complimented that he thinks you're always beautiful, you feel let down by his reaction. If he cares about your feelings, he may be a little more generous.