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ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R)
Dear Annie: My husband's sister refuses to cancel her plans even if her children are sick — which happens all the time. She will drop the kids off at my mother-in-law's and, as she's leaving, say, "Oh, by the way, 'Suzy' has a cold.…
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ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R)
Dear Annie: I was close to "Bob" in college. Four years ago, when he married "Sue," whom I vaguely knew, I was the only one of his friends to attend her bachelorette party. A few years after their wedding, I flew across the …Read more.
ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R)
Dear Annie: I am an addict in recovery. I moved out of state three years ago when I was seeking treatment and completed my program 15 months ago. I have successfully maintained employment for more than a year now.
My three children are still living …Read more.
ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R)
Dear Annie: Our next-door neighbors have a wood stove that is their primary heating system. My family is the victim of their invasive smoke. We have put plastic around our windows, but the smoke still enters our house through the vents, electrical …Read more.
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Annie's Mailbox®, June 26Dear Annie: My wife and I met when we were in college. We are now 43. Ten years into the marriage, I became addicted to cocaine. We separated five years ago, but remain very close. I have been clean for a year and want to pursue our relationship as husband and wife. We still love each other and enjoy one another's company. We also find each other physically attractive, but she refuses to return to the marriage or have a sexual relationship. It's like being married without the physical contact. I have tried, but she always pushes me away. She wants the financial support, but not the emotional involvement. I am tired of this situation. I can't live without her, and I hate living apart. I want her back. What should I do? — Gaithersburg, Md. Dear Gaithersburg: We don't know why your wife has no interest in a reconciliation. The best way to get to the heart of the matter is to seek professional counseling, preferably with your wife. However, if she won't go, it means she has no interest in changing the situation. The counselor will then help you decide what your next step should be. It is unfair for you to remain in limbo. If she isn't willing to be a complete partner, with all the trimmings, she should set you free, emotionally and legally. Dear Annie: My husband's nephew is getting married soon, and we received our invitation three weeks ago. The problem is, they didn't invite my kids, who are in their 30s. I realize people can invite whomever they choose, but couldn't they have at least invited their first cousins to the dance? They have always gotten along beautifully. There are going to be 150 people at the wedding, and only six of them are related on my husband's side. It has made me not want to go. I can't understand it. We've been family for 35 years. — Hurt and Angry Dear Hurt: Unless you have planned a wedding, you may not appreciate how complicated the process can be. Dear Annie: "Concerned About My Son's Future" said her son experienced a mental breakdown during his first semester in college. I am saddened that this happened, but as a college administrator, I am troubled by her question: "What are the nation's colleges doing about this problem?" The question implies that schools should provide regular mental health screenings for all students, and residence halls should be staffed with licensed professional counselors. Colleges are educational institutions, not total care facilities. While we provide a variety of services to assist students with personal growth and development, it is not our job to anticipate or prevent every mental health issue. I'm sad the "school didn't seem to care," and I am sure they were "interested in avoiding liability" because of the parents' implication that the school should somehow have been able to anticipate the very problem his parents were unable to foresee. — College Administrator Dear Administrator: You are correct that some problems cannot be anticipated, and schools should not be blamed for this. But when parents send their children off to college, the school assumes the role of guardian. Even though most kids are over 18 and legally responsible for themselves, parents need to believe their child is being watched over and that serious problems will be noticed. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie's Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
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