life

Neighbors' Noisy Sex Life Causes Problems for Young Mother

Ask Someone Else's Mom by by Susan Writer
by Susan Writer
Ask Someone Else's Mom | August 4th, 2020

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: After my husband and I divorced, I moved with our four-year-old daughter to a two-bedroom apartment not far from my mom’s, which works out, since she helps with my daughter when my ex can’t.

It’s a nice building overall, but it is far from sound-proofed, and we often can hear what goes on in our neighbors’ apartments. The two women who live right above us are partiers of the first order, and they specialize in overnight guests and lengthy sex sessions that are loud enough to wake both me and my daughter up, sometimes several nights a week.

I certainly do not want to come off as up-tight, and I honestly don’t care what they do, but I have a young child who asks questions and is cranky in the morning because she doesn’t always get enough sleep.

I can’t afford to move, and I don’t want to make enemies of my neighbors, but do you think I should let them know that we hear what they’re up to? --- NEED MY REST

DEAR NEED MY REST: I don’t think it’s unreasonable to let your neighbors know the sounds of their leisure pursuits make it past their four walls and floorboards.

If you’re not comfortable having it come directly from you, you could consider contacting your landlord/lady or the management company in charge of the building. You have a young child to think of, and that can certainly be stressed when you approach either the neighbors or the building people.

life

Sister Who Frequently Asks for Help Never Helps When Asked

Ask Someone Else's Mom by by Susan Writer
by Susan Writer
Ask Someone Else's Mom | July 31st, 2020

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Whenever my sister needs help (which happens a lot!), my mom, stepdad, and I always do what we can to help her and her husband out. It also always seems to happen that whenever one of us needs a hand with something, she and her husband are never available. Since she used to be more helpful before she got married, we are thinking this is coming from her husband, who is not at all close to his own family.

How do we let my sister know her helping would be greatly appreciated, and that it does not feel very fair that there is not reciprocation when we ask for help? This has been especially upsetting since my stepdad’s cancer diagnosis and treatments. --- COULD USE A HAND SOMETIMES

DEAR COULD USE A HAND SOMETIMES: It’s entirely possible your sister’s getting caught between her husband’s preferences and your family’s needs. This could mean too many requests might result in her feeling as if she has to make a choice between the two sides.

Rather than putting in a lot of small requests, perhaps you could try directly approaching your sister with a specific call for help only she — without her husband along — can render. Let her know how much her stepping in, even this one time, would mean to your parents.

If she finds herself unable to meet you this far, her loyalties are clear, and you would save yourself some frustration by finding other ways to get things done. Sometimes a little walking away is a big sanity saver.

Family & Parenting
life

Blogger Shares TMI for GF's Comfort

Ask Someone Else's Mom by by Susan Writer
by Susan Writer
Ask Someone Else's Mom | July 30th, 2020

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My girlfriend is incredibly creative and talented and one of the best writers I know. About six months ago she started a blog, and lately she’s started getting into writing about her relationships — past and present.

I’m not an overly private person, but some of what she shares is getting me a little uncomfortable. Although she writes under a different name, all our friends know who she is and that she’s in a relationship with me.

I have mentioned to her how uncomfortable some of what she is putting out there makes me, but she says nobody will take it all that seriously, and she wouldn’t put in anything too personal, but I feel she already has.

Am I just being uber-sensitive? --- THE BLOGGER’S GIRLFRIEND

DEAR BLOGGER’S GIRLFRIEND: Writers have long taken inspiration from their own lives, and it’s often something that comes with the territory for those close to them. In the case of bloggers in particular, what happens in their lives is what they’re most likely to write about.

It may not be enough to tell her you’re just not comfortable with her writing about your relationship, especially since it’s presumably a big part of her life. Perhaps it’s time to be more specific about what you consider fair game and are alright with her posting and what you strongly believe is too personal for public consumption.

Love & Dating

Next up: More trusted advice from...

  • Why Is My Ex Sending Mixed Signals?
  • Does She REALLY Like Me, Or Is It A Trick?
  • I Don’t Measure Up To Other Men. What Should I Do?
  • Flip the Sheet Pan Dinner
  • A Mutual Salad Treaty
  • Fooling Around With Lemons
  • Astro-Graph for February 03, 2023
  • Astro-Graph for February 02, 2023
  • Astro-Graph for February 01, 2023
UExpressLifeParentingHomePetsHealthAstrologyOdditiesA-Z
AboutContactSubmissionsTerms of ServicePrivacy Policy
©2023 Andrews McMeel Universal