Jeanne PhillipsDEAR ABBY: I’m a 55-year-old guy stranded in a tough marriage situation. My wife has had a serious falling-out with her father. After his wife of more than 50 years passed away, he immediately took up with an old flame and dumped his family in favor of his new lady’s family.
My wife now treats me like garbage. Apparently, “all men are dogs,” and if she passes away, I “obviously already have a girl lined up to take her place,” and, oh yeah, I plan to abandon my children in favor of the new woman’s family. I’m being painted with a very broad brush, and it is destroying our relationship.
My wife is angry and bitter all the time, and I feel abandoned. I love her dearly and don’t know what to do next, although I am thinking of punching out her father. Any thoughts are appreciated. – STRANDED IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR STRANDED: Your wife is now an “orphan.” She’s hurt, angry and misdirecting her anger at her father onto you. Of course it is unfair to you. She needs counseling NOW, before she compounds her pain by destroying her marriage to you. Be smart and insist upon it.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a fifth-grader, and I’d like to know something important to girls my age. I want to know how to get a guy to be my boyfriend and the steps to getting him. It’s hard for me to get a boyfriend.