Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999. by Ann Landers on Creators.com

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RELEASE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999. Dear Ann Landers: Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with kidney disease. My mother told me …Read more. RELEASE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012 Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999. Dear Ann Landers: Too many parents have no idea what goes on all day in school, and yet, …Read more. RELEASE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012 Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999. Dear Ann Landers: I am the mother of a very confused 5-year-old boy. His father and I …Read more. RELEASE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999. Dear Ann Landers: I got a kick out of the reader who thought the "W" in women'…Read more.

Classic Ann Landers, October 11

Dear Ann Landers: When my husband, "Darryl," inherited a substantial amount of money several years ago, I figured that we could, at last, get rid of the hand-me-down furniture and mismatched kitchen dishes and have some really nice things in the house. I must have been dreaming.

Darryl immediately opened a bank account in his name only and kept the inherited money separate. He then started to buy expensive "toys" for himself — cameras, computers, guns, tools and finally a boat. He never carries less than $1,000 in his wallet. Last night, he complained that I am spending too much on groceries. Yesterday the girls at the office asked me to join them for lunch, and I had trouble scraping together enough change for the meal.

Darryl has been a good husband, and I probably shouldn't complain. Maybe I should accept the fact that the inheritance is HIS money and let it go at that. Meanwhile, Ann, I am seeing him in a different light, and I don't like it. He no longer seems like the generous, loving man I married. And P.S., I still get embarrassed when company comes and our place looks like hell. — Empire State

Dear Em.: It sounds as if Darryl has been putting himself and his indulgences first, and you are getting the leftover crumbs. This is not what I consider an equal partnership. Nothing will change until you find the courage to assert yourself and demand that he treat you more fairly.

You may need therapy to do this. I urge you to pay attention to what I have written. It could make a huge difference in your life.

Dear Ann Landers: My brother and I grew up with our mother, a single parent, and it was always her dream to have her own home. When my brother and I could afford it, we bought a home together so our mother could have her dream.

Three weeks after we all moved in, Mom suddenly passed away. She was only 47, and we were devastated. Since then, the relationship between my brother and me has deteriorated. He refuses to help around the house. He won't buy anything, including groceries, cleaning supplies or paint. I have offered to purchase his share of the house, but he refuses to sell. He doesn't have the money to buy me out.

I am at my rope's end. Do you have any suggestions for me? — Frustrated in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Dear Ga.: You need to see a lawyer about having the house partitioned so you can sell your half of the property. Get whatever amount you can, and be done with it.

Ann Landers' booklet "Nuggets and Doozies" has everything from the outrageously funny to the poignantly insightful. Send a self-addressed, long, business-sized envelope and a check or money order for $5.25 (this includes postage and handling) to: Nuggets, c/o Ann Landers, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

ANN LANDERS (R)

Comments

1 Comments | Post Comment

"Frustrated in Lawrenceville, GA's" brother doesn't contribute to anything probably because he doesn't want to. And he probably doesn't want to sell because he sees that as "Mom's house," and wants everything to stay exactly as it was, even tho Mom only lived there 3 weeks.

Comment: #1
Posted by: Judith Fowler
Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:58 PM

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