DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Quinn," and I have been married for two years. We're college sweethearts who re-found each other. Our marriage is solid and romantic. We were both married before -- to the worst life has to offer -- so we truly appreciate each other. Quinn is extremely good-looking, and I'm no slouch, either. We have been told many times what a striking couple we are.
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Quinn came into this marriage with grown children. He has five daughters, three of whom make a point of saying, each time we see them, how "Mrs. Smith really has the hots for Dad," or, "Miss Johnson wants Dad so bad she can't get over him," or, "We ran into our old high school teacher, and she only wanted to talk about Dad and how hot he was." Another daughter tells us how all her friends (21 to 23) want to date him!
This has become redundant and tiring, and I don't believe any of it is true. I think they say it only to make me uncomfortable and, frankly, I feel it's rude. What's the best way to handle this? -- THE NEW WIFE
DEAR NEW WIFE: Do it with humor. If Quinn was my husband, I'd smile, put my arms around him and say, "Let 'em eat their hearts out, girls, 'cause he's mine, all mine!" Then I'd add, "And by the way, we're thinking of starting a family." Since they can dish it out, let's see how well the "girls" can take it.