DEAR ABBY: My husband recently asked how I would feel about him buying a plane ticket for his brother "Jake" to visit us and his parents over the holidays. I told him I wouldn't like it -- not because my husband would be paying for the ticket, but because Jake is a registered sex offender.

My husband is now upset with me, saying Jake "served his time." I understand that, but the underage girl he messed around with was his niece. My daughter is 10 and starting to develop. She's also affectionate with family. I don't want her hugging Uncle Jake.

My husband and I are now not speaking. He told me that if his family isn't welcome in our house, he will start treating my family badly. Am I wrong for not wanting Jake sleeping under the same roof as my daughter? -- PROTECTIVE MOM IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR PROTECTIVE MOM: No, you're not wrong. That your husband would try to blackmail you into allowing a registered sex offender to sleep in the same house as your adolescent daughter is deplorable. Your daughter is old enough to be told that Uncle Jake has a problem with young girls, and that if he ever makes a move on her, you want to know immediately.

It isn't like Jake did time for bank robbery. Sex offenders are usually prohibited from having contact with minors. The man has a sexual impulse disorder that shouldn't be ignored, and your husband should not allow any risk that your daughter might be molested.

DEAR ABBY: My son accidentally hit my neighbor's car with his bike. We immediately went over, told him to get an estimate, and I said I would gladly pay the cost of repair. Three days later, our neighbor came over with the estimate and I wrote him a check.

As time went on, I noticed the car wasn't fixed, so one day when I saw him outside I asked him about it. He told me his wife needed some things, so he gave her the money I had given him. He said he wasn't really that concerned about the car.

Since I gave him the money to fix the car, shouldn't he have used it for that purpose? My husband says once I gave our neighbor the money, it was his to do with as he liked. I feel I did the right thing and he took the money knowing he was never going to fix the dent. What do you think? -- TOO GOOD A NEIGHBOR IN OHIO

DEAR TOO GOOD: I don't think a person can ever be "too good" a neighbor, and I agree with your husband.

DEAR ABBY: My husband of two years, "Cash," can't fall asleep or stay asleep unless the TV is on -- any show, any channel, even infomercials. I am the opposite. The noise keeps me awake, and I have heard it's not good to have a TV in the bedroom.

We compromised by getting a remote with a timer. I can give up the 60 or 90 minutes he needs to fall asleep. But he frequently wakes up in the middle of the night and turns the TV back on, or moves to the couch to watch the TV there.

I asked Cash if he'd remove the TV from our bedroom. His response was, "Well, I guess I'll be sleeping on the couch a lot." I'd love to keep my husband in bed, but I'd also like to get some rest. Advice, Abby? -- SLEEP-DEPRIVED IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR SLEEP-DEPRIVED: Yes. There must be a reason for your husband's irregular sleep habits. He should discuss with his doctor the fact that he can't sleep through the night. He may have a physical problem or a sleep disorder. In order for both of you to function in your waking lives, it's important that you are well-rested.

What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in "What Every Teen Should Know." To order, send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)

DEAR ABBY: I read with interest your excellent advice to "Nowhere and Everywhere" (Aug. 17), who asked about letting family members know about her polyamorous relationship. As a counselor, nurse and consulting hypnotist in private practice, I counsel people every day in developing healthy, happy, open relationships. Polyamory and other forms of non-monogamous relationships are becoming more widely practiced and accepted, as many individuals and couples find the limits of traditional marriage do not meet their needs.

It is not realistic to expect family members to immediately accept this lifestyle if they were raised with different beliefs about sexual exclusivity in marriage. I advise couples to "test the waters" first with the most open-minded family member by bringing up the subject of a "friend" who is in an open relationship. If the relative reacts in a neutral or positive way, it may be safe to disclose the truth. Ask this person how the rest of the family might respond to the news. Couples should carefully assess whether their relationship is strong enough to withstand potential rejection.

There is a price to pay for being open, and one for staying secretive. The latter requires lying to family members and excluding one partner from family events, causing pain for everyone. (The cornerstone of polyamorous relationships is honesty.)

Families do become more accepting over time if they see that the couple's marriage is not threatened by the polyamory and that everyone seems happy. I advise couples to expect drama and disapproval at first, but to be patient and keep reaching out to family members to give them time to get used to this new situation. -- KATHY IN BERKELEY

DEAR KATHY: Thank you for writing. Responses to that controversial letter were passionate and numerous. My newspaper readers comment:

DEAR ABBY: In response to "N and E's" request for a tip on how to let her boyfriend's conservative family know about their illicit, immoral polyamorous relationship, my advice is to say nothing.

If she's asked directly, only then should she defer to the boyfriend to explain their unorthodox lifestyle to his parents. Why does she feel the need to flaunt her private sexual relations?

If she loves the two men, her actions will speak for themselves without having to offend the family's ingrained sensibilities. -- ON HIGHER GROUND IN SALEM, MASS.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been non-monogamously married for many years. My lover joined the household four years ago. Some members of my family welcome all three of us, some don't. One, who doesn't otherwise identify as conservative, has cut me off.

I'm sad that my happy family life offends them, but my household is my primary family unit, and I don't lie or cover it up. Different family styles work for different people. Why is this hard to grasp? -- JEAN IN PROVIDENCE

DEAR ABBY: Human sexuality expresses itself across a vast spectrum. Consenting adults can and do choose this lifestyle, but it's a no-brainer that it strikes a negative chord within our culture.

Why is it necessary to remove the last shred of illusion and comfort from those parents? They may lack the psychological flexibility to accept polyamory. They already know on some inner level what is happening. My closest friends know about my lifestyle, but I am content to not "stir the pot" by forcing it into open conversation.

We don't live in an especially tolerant society. People are slow to embrace anything different from the "norm." If that triad is happy and enjoying life, that should be all that matters. -- E.L. IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR ABBY: Where will she be if she becomes pregnant? A baby would complicate a triad situation. There can be only one biological dad.

Who will play Daddy, and who the uncle? Will each of them really be OK with this then? How confused might the child be? As a mom, I feel for the parents of all involved. -- NOT SURE IF I'D WANT TO KNOW

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds only) to Dear Abby -- Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)

DEAR ABBY: Two years ago, my friend of more than 30 years was being married for the first time. Three days before the ceremony, "Caryn's" wedding planner emailed all the guests, saying the wedding was canceled. No explanation was given, and we were asked to "respect the bride's privacy" and refrain from contacting her.

I waited a week, then sent Caryn a note saying I was thinking about her. I had given her two shower gifts and a wedding present a month in advance.

Caryn has not returned the gifts. I didn't expect to get the lingerie back, but I did expect that the expensive tableware would be returned to me. In subsequent phone conversations -- and emails and texts -- she has never mentioned the gifts. Should I tell her I'd like my gift back or let it drop? Obviously, it's bothering me, but if you tell me I should forget about it, I will. -- DISGRUNTLED FRIEND IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR FRIEND: Either Caryn doesn't have a clue about proper wedding etiquette -- that if a wedding is canceled, all unused gifts should be returned -- or her fiance skipped out and took the gifts with him. I see no reason why, after all this time, you shouldn't ask your friend if she's planning on returning the gifts. Then you'll have your answer.

DEAR ABBY: With Halloween fast approaching, my husband and I are again trying to figure out how to deal with a sticky situation. A few years ago, we took in the granddaughter of a dear friend who passed away. "Teresa" is mentally challenged and childlike at age 35.

She gets excited on holidays just like a youngster does. We usually stay home and observe the holidays without incident, but Halloween is different, because Teresa wants to go trick-or-treating and expects candy from people who may not understand.

We've tried in the past to suggest a party at church, but Teresa expects to collect goodies throughout the entire neighborhood, where we don't know everyone. People can be cruel and have made rude comments about Teresa's age and size. (She weighs 300 pounds.)

Is there anything we can do to help strangers understand? Can you think of something else exciting we can do that might interest Teresa and lessen her desire to go trick-or-treating? -- SPOOKED FOR HALLOWEEN

DEAR SPOOKED: Teresa should not go trick-or-treating unescorted, and then, only to households where the residents know her or have been alerted to her condition, which should eliminate insensitive comments. If that doesn't work, then perhaps Teresa might enjoy handing out candy to trick-or-treaters who come to your door and celebrating the holiday that way.

DEAR ABBY: I loaned a friend a significant amount of money, with the understanding that he would pay me a small amount every week for a year until it was repaid. For the most part he has been making the payments, but he has missed a few.

In the past, I have always given him a gift of $50 for his birthday and on Christmas. Would it be cheesy on my part to deduct the amount from what he owes me rather than give him cash on these occasions? -- DOIN' THE MATH IN SAN DIEGO

DEAR DOIN': While I see your point, you're mixing apples and oranges. A loan is a loan, and a gift is a gift. Your chances of being repaid will be better if you don't mix the two.

To receive a collection of Abby's most memorable -- and most frequently requested -- poems and essays, send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby -- Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)