life

Good Girl Feels Tempted to Be Just a Little Bit Bad

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 27th, 2010 | Letter 1 of 3

DEAR ABBY: I'm 16 and have grown up religious my whole life. I get good grades and stay out of trouble. A lot of my friends have done crazy things like drinking and partying, but I haven't. Because of this, I have the reputation of being a "goody-two-shoes."

I'm not saying it's a bad thing being a good girl, but I don't want to be a goody-two-shoes. Part of me wants to try some of the stuff my friends have been doing, but I don't want to lose my parents' trust. Please help! -- RESTLESS IN OREGON

DEAR RESTLESS: You have your parents' trust because you have earned it. Before you try any of the "stuff" your friends have been doing, ask yourself what the consequences could be. Yes, it's hard being labeled a goody-two-shoes -- but please look closely at who is doing the name-calling. A streetwise individual once told me, "The best way out of a jam is not to get into one in the first place." That tidbit has served me well, and that's why I'm passing it along to you.

life

Dear Abby for March 27, 2010

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 27th, 2010 | Letter 2 of 3

DEAR ABBY: My daughter left our small Midwestern town for the West Coast to marry money. At 37, she finally snagged her millionaire. She thought it was going to give her a blank check.

She does live in a lovely home and drives an expensive foreign car, but that's where it ends. Everything is in his name, and her wedding ring is one we gave her, although he paid to remove the stone and have it polished. I told her then to walk away.

They have two children. Her son is a spoiled brat, completely self-absorbed like his dad. Her daughter has learning disabilities and is still at home.

More than one family member refers to her spouse as a horse's rear end. He rarely attends family events, which is really fine with everyone. At best, he can be described as rude and obnoxious.

My daughter would never leave him. She loves the lifestyle too much. If she only knew how most of her extended family think of them. I'm embarrassed by it, really.

I just thought your readers should know that marrying money isn't necessarily the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. -- HER MOM IN WISCONSIN

DEAR MOM: I'll say. Someone who marries for money usually ends up earning every single penny.

life

Dear Abby for March 27, 2010

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 27th, 2010 | Letter 3 of 3
life

Medic's Battlefield Decision Now Continues to Haunt Him

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 26th, 2010 | Letter 1 of 3
life

Dear Abby for March 26, 2010

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 26th, 2010 | Letter 2 of 3
life

Dear Abby for March 26, 2010

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 26th, 2010 | Letter 3 of 3
life

Mother Struggles to Love the Daughter She Dislikes

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 25th, 2010 | Letter 1 of 3

DEAR ABBY: I can't stand my 10-year-old daughter. I was an 18-year-old single mother when she was born. I find her ugly and annoying. Everyone tells me how "sweet" and "pretty" she is, but I can't see it. I dread when she comes home from school. I am not physically abusive to her -- I would never do that. But I can be verbally abusive, and I know I need to stop. She just makes me so mad.

I am now married with two more kids (boys), and I adore them. What's wrong with me? How can I fix this? I'm afraid it's too late. I have no spiritual adviser to talk to, and I can't afford to speak to a professional counselor. -- ANONYMOUS IN WASHINGTON STATE

DEAR ANONYMOUS: The circumstances of your daughter's birth were very different from those of your sons. When you look at her, you may be reminded of a chapter in your life you would prefer to forget. How sad for both of you.

The way you treat her, particularly in relation to her half-brothers -- will affect the way she perceives herself for the rest of her life. People whose parents treat them as unlovable often regard themselves as not "measuring up," and it can cause self-esteem problems that last a lifetime.

Ordinarily, I would encourage you to seek low-cost therapy through your county department of mental health for the sake of both you and your daughter. If that isn't possible, then I advise you to hold your tongue, control your temper and compel yourself to show your daughter approval and affection every day until it becomes a habit or she's old enough to leave -- whichever comes first.

life

Dear Abby for March 25, 2010

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 25th, 2010 | Letter 2 of 3

DEAR ABBY: My workplace has instituted "casual dress Friday," where everyone is supposed to make a donation to a charity selected by a different employee each fortnight. While this is nice in theory, I often find that I don't wish to donate to the chosen charity because I don't agree with its ethics or its methods.

I give regularly to charities of my choice, which I have researched beforehand, but have never been one to donate automatically to every passing collection.

How do I bow out gracefully when the collection tin comes around? I have tried to explain to my co-workers why I don't support a particular charity and simply say I have chosen not to participate. I am met with blank stares and demands that I explain myself, and lectures about why I must "support the team."

I don't feel my colleagues have any right to tell me what I should do with my money, but they obviously disagree and I am finding the situation very uncomfortable. Any suggestions? -- FEELING AWKWARD IN AUSTRALIA

DEAR FEELING AWKWARD: The policy you describe seems more like "friendly" extortion than real charitable giving. (Is there some kind of contest going on between teams to see who can raise the most money?) While I'm all for casual Fridays, the policy of pressuring people to give strikes me as one that should be modified or done away with completely. That's why I think you should discuss your feelings with your supervisor or the head of the department and go on record that you prefer to give your money to causes you have researched and with which you identify. If that doesn't help, you may be working for the wrong company. Sorry, mate.

life

Dear Abby for March 25, 2010

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | March 25th, 2010 | Letter 3 of 3

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