DEAR ABBY: My father-in-law, who lives out of state, regularly makes crude jokes and comments about his sex life or my sex life in my presence and in the presence of my wife, his wife and others. He once commented to me that he would be excited to see his daughter, my wife, in bed with a woman.
I have expressed to my wife and mother-in-law how uncomfortable it is, but he doesn't stop the comments, even when confronted. He claims he wants to be close to me but refuses to address the concerns of his wife, daughter and son-in-law. It's reached the point that I try to avoid my in-laws when they visit, including volunteering to work extra shifts at work.
It concerns me that he occasionally makes these tasteless comments around my young daughters. I think he's a dirty old man. I can't stand being around him, but my wife and mother-in-law overlook his comments and think the world of him. Am I overreacting? How do I continue to interact with him given my distaste for him? -- CREEPED OUT IN GEORGIA
DEAR CREEPED OUT: I don't blame you for being creeped out. Your father-in-law appears to be not only a "dirty old man" but an obsessive one. While your wife and her mother may be prepared to overlook his inappropriate behavior, I don't think your young daughters should be subjected to it. For that matter, neither should you be. If your FIL wants to be "close" to you, the price he will have to pay will be to watch his mouth, or you will take the girls to a park, a lunch, a movie, etc. while he's there.