Jeanne PhillipsDEAR ABBY: My son is in his mid-20s, and I would love to spend time with him. The problem is, every time he has come to my home he has stolen things from me and pawned them. I know this to be a fact.
I confronted him about it two years ago. I told him I love him very much but can no longer trust him in my home. He didn’t deny the thefts, but since then, he won’t take my calls or respond on social media or to text messages. What’s a dad to do or not do? – FAILING IN FLORIDA
DEAR FAILING: Your son may be ashamed to face you after what he has done. All you can do is continue to reach out, tell him you love him and pray that he finally decides to stop hiding from you and possibly from himself. You have my sympathy, but you cannot force this.
DEAR ABBY: I’m the mom of a 31-year-old daughter who recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend so she can be with a 17-year-old kid. I probably wouldn’t be upset if she didn’t have sons who are 15, 14, 12 and a daughter, 10, who considered the man she broke up with their dad. Her new love is only two years older than her oldest. I am having a hard time accepting this and so are my grandkids.
I haven’t talked to my daughter about her choice because I know she’s an adult and the bottom line is it isn’t really my business. I do worry about how much confusion this causes the kids.