DEAR ABBY: I'm currently dating a man who is 10 years older than I am. I'm 24; he's 34. We have known each other for two years and we live together. He has two beautiful daughters I adore.
His older daughter, "Pearl" (age 12), called me "Mom" the other night, and then asked me if it was OK. I'm not their mother, and I would never try to take that role away from my boyfriend's ex, but this puts me in an awkward situation. As much as I love his girls, I don't want to cause drama or have Pearl get in trouble with her mother. -- SHE CALLED ME MOM
DEAR CALLED ME MOM: Talk to Pearl. Tell her you were touched knowing she feels that way about you and deeply flattered when she called you "Mom," but you feel if her mother knew about it that she would be hurt. (This is especially true if the girls live with their mother.) Then ask Pearl to come up with another affectionate name for you, or suggest one to her.