DEAR ABBY: I am recently divorced. For financial reasons, as well as to be nice, I have allowed my ex-wife, “Cathy,” and her daughter to live in our home with me and my kids. Cathy has her own bedroom and bathroom.
The subject of my living arrangements came up recently while I was on a date, and the woman immediately freaked out. She angrily informed me that I should have told her my ex-wife was living with me when we started talking. I felt it was something that could wait, at least past the first date. Despite the fact that we were married, Cathy and I are nothing more than roommates now.
When is it too late in a new relationship to divulge this arrangement? – JOHN IN KENTUCKY
DEAR JOHN: You did nothing wrong. It is not unheard of for divorced couples to continue living together for financial reasons or to assist in co-parenting. If you told the woman about your living arrangement before becoming intimate with her, she had no reason to freak out.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 54-year-old woman with three adult children and three grandchildren. I lost my mother 34 years ago, and my baby sister died 20 years ago.