life

Man Insists on Reading All of Wife's Personal Messages

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | August 12th, 2019 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together for 20 years. I have never cheated on him or given him any reason to believe I have. But he is constantly on my Facebook account. He also reads all my emails and text messages.

I have nothing to hide, but I feel foolish standing by him as he reads my messages. I feel like a student in a principal's office waiting to be reprimanded for something I did wrong or said.

If he doesn't read my personal messages when I am up, he waits for me to go to sleep and reads everything. I have not answered messages that friends have sent me because he reads them, deletes them and then doesn't tell me I got a message.

He gets mad at me if I tell him I don't want him looking through my messages because he says I must be hiding something. I have changed passwords only for him to demand that I give them to him. His actions are making me extremely stressed. Is this normal behavior? -- STRESSED SOMEWHERE IN THE USA

DEAR STRESSED: NO, IT IS NOT NORMAL, and it's no wonder that you are extremely stressed. Your husband's behavior is extremely controlling, and it is a reflection of the extent of his insecurity.

Your situation is unhealthy, to put it mildly. Has this sort of thing been going on for the last 20 years? If not, it could be a precursor to domestic violence. For your own sake, talk to someone at the National Domestic Violence Hotline about what is going on. Its toll-free number is 800-799-7233. The website is thehotline.org.

Marriage & Divorce
life

New Hire Is Caught in the Middle of Department Rivalry

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | August 12th, 2019 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR ABBY: I just started my first full-time job, and my boss is amazing but a bit overprotective. Last week, our marketing director, "Amy," reached out and asked me to organize an envelope-stuffing for invitations to an event my department is hosting. This event was not organized by my department. It was being handled by the marketing and membership teams.

My boss thought it was unreasonable for me to have to do that. I didn't mind, nor did I complain, but my boss was upset and confronted Amy about it. Amy apologized and helped me send out the invites, but since then she has been cool to me. It feels like others in the office have also withdrawn somewhat (although I suppose I could just be imagining this).

I really wish my boss hadn't said anything. On one hand, I appreciate her standing up for me, but I don't want my co-workers to think I'm lazy or a complainer, especially because I’m new here and at the bottom of the totem pole in the office. Should I just let it blow over? Should I say something? Any advice would be welcome. -- NOT A COMPLAINER

DEAR NOT A COMPLAINER: Your boss may have stepped in because there were tasks she wanted you to spend your time doing that are more important to her than stuffing envelopes. Tell Amy privately that you were glad to help with the invitations, and you never complained to anyone about having been asked to do it. It may clear the air. Then have a talk with your boss about chain-of-command rules, including whether you must get an OK from her before helping out other departments.

Work & School
life

Man Finds Biological Dad, Is Eager to Change His Name

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | August 11th, 2019 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR ABBY: For most of my life I searched for my biological father. My mother had many relationships throughout her life, and I was the result of a one-night stand. I have a half-brother who is the result of another failed relationship. My mother finally married a man who raised us as his own and gave us his last name. However, Mom wouldn't tell me or my brother who our real fathers were.

Over the years I questioned my mother about him, but she would give only sketchy details and sent me down many dead-end trails. After she became terminally ill, I continued asking her for the truth, but she wouldn't budge. My guess is she was ashamed of her past and couldn't bear to tell me, or was afraid my real dad would take me away from her.

Two years ago, I took an online DNA test and amazingly found my biological father. From the time I made contact, he and my new brothers have accepted me and my family and given us unconditional love. I like to say I hit the "family jackpot."

Over the last two years I have wanted to change my last name, but I'm afraid to make the leap. I have a half-brother on my mother's side with whom I share my stepfather's last name. Many times I wanted to ask for his permission/blessing, but I'm worried he will get angry and never speak to me again. I know he will think I am abandoning him if I do this. Am I selfish for wanting this name change, or should I seek to set the record straight? -- RECLAIMING MY NAME IN INDIANA

DEAR RECLAIMING: You certainly have a right to change your name to the one that reflects your identity. But since you asked, I think you should wait to "set the record straight." Your stepfather took you into his home and his heart and gave you his name, and to change it now would be a poor way to repay his love and kindness. It might lessen the blow if you discuss hyphenating your last name. After he is gone, you could shorten the name to your birth father's.

Family & Parenting
life

Mother-in-Law With House Key Proves She Can't Be Trusted

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | August 11th, 2019 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR ABBY: My mother-in-law has a key to my house. I didn't give it to her. We left a key under the mat one day so she could get in to pick up something because I wasn't going to be home when she arrived. I asked my husband to get the key back, but he is uncomfortable asking.

She and my father-in-law have been in our house twice more in our absence. We were out of town, and we were shocked to hear they had entered our home without asking. It was almost sneaky the way they did it, and when I talked to my husband about it, he was upset as well and took his anger out on me. It ruined our day traveling. We didn't speak the entire two-hour trip back home.

I asked my mother-in-law via text to please let us know when she was entering the house due to privacy and that I was not trying to hurt her feelings. She's now upset with me and says she doesn't know when she will visit us again. I am tired of being the second fiddle to her. Am I overreacting? It seems I can't win with this! -- KEYED UP IN ALABAMA

DEAR KEYED UP: This is not a matter of playing second fiddle or any other instrument. Your husband should ask his mother for the key back. By doing this now, it will establish your independence. If he can't find the courage to insist upon the privacy you both deserve, change the locks.

Family & Parenting
life

Mom Has Fallen Out of Love With Good Man and Father

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | August 10th, 2019 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR ABBY: I'm a mother of two girls, ages 3 and 5. Their father and I are together, but I'm not in love with him anymore. I have felt this way for two years now.

I'm not excited to see him come home. When I take our children out, I hope he doesn't want to come. When he touches me affectionately, I want to pull away. I have talked to him about it, but he doesn't feel the same way. He wants to do everything he can to fix it. I'd love that too, but I no longer feel any connection to him.

He's not a bad guy. He gives me plenty of attention and is good with the kids. I feel like an idiot. What kind of person even thinks about breaking her family up when they've got someone so great? How much time should I give this before I call it quits? How much couples counseling should we pay for before we can say we tried, but it didn't work? Should I stay for the kids even though I'm not happy with him? -- JUMBLED IN OHIO

DEAR JUMBLED: I would love to know what happened two years ago that caused you to begin withdrawing from your partner. You ask what kind of person thinks the way you do? The answer may be a woman who is bored, confused, disillusioned or has stopped putting in the effort that's required to maintain a satisfactory relationship. Or, you may not have been in love with him in the first place.

If you're sincere about it, try counseling, first to determine where your relationship went off track, and second to find a way to save it. Your daughters are little. They don't need their lives disrupted. Be sure the person you and your spouse choose is licensed. Give it a year. By then both of you will know whether it was worth the money.

Marriage & Divorce
life

Mom Neglected by Sons Decides to Hit the Road

Dear Abby by by Abigail Van Buren
by Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby | August 10th, 2019 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR ABBY: I'm 63 and retired. I have two grown sons and grandchildren. Some of them are young, and some of them are young adults.

My husband of 10 years and I have decided to adopt the RV lifestyle and travel. My sons are always busy with their own lives and hardly ever reach out to me except to ask me to baby-sit or to tell me I "need to come see the grandkids." They make no effort to visit us, although we winter in the same state not far from them. I'm lucky if I ever receive a "How are you doing, Mom?" phone call. We see each family during the holidays.

When we travel, we'll be on the road four to six months at a time. Contact will be by phone or through social media only. I feel guilty for doing this. Why? -- GUILTY IN TEXAS

DEAR GUILTY IN TEXAS: If I had to guess, you feel guilty because you think it is your duty to be at your adult children's beck and call. You have a right to the adventure awaiting you, and I hope you and your husband will go ahead with it. If you do, you will make lifetime memories and new friendships together. If an emergency arises, you can always hightail it back. Remember: You have earned this, so please allow yourself to enjoy it.

Family & Parenting

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