DEAR ABBY: I simply attended my son’s wedding ceremony. He married a beautiful girl, and I couldn’t be happier for them. Nevertheless, I used to be not acknowledged throughout their wedding ceremony reception, which deeply saddened me.
My son’s mom and I divorced 25 years in the past after she cheated on me with a number of males. I by no means disclosed her infidelity to my son as a result of I didn’t need to tarnish his view of his mom.
Throughout the reception, when she spoke to the friends, she made it sound like she raised our son alone. I wasn’t talked about in any respect throughout her speech, regardless that I had custody of him for greater than a 12 months after we first divorced. As a result of I used to be within the army and needed to go on deployments, she took him for just a few years after that.
I additionally had custody of him throughout all of his highschool years as a result of she couldn’t deal with him. Though I obtained him via commencement, she took all of the credit score.
I’m deeply damage that she didn’t have the decency to say me. If she had, I might be OK with letting the previous be the previous.
My new daughter-in-law thinks my ex is this excellent girl who raised my son all by herself. Though I don’t have the center to inform my son in regards to the lies and dishonest my ex put me via, I really feel the necessity to inform my daughter-in-law of my ex’s narcissism so she is going to perceive it was I who raised him throughout his formative and highschool years.
What ought to I do?
— NONEXISTENT DAD
DEAR DAD: One would suppose that earlier than marrying this excellent girl, your son would have instructed her about his historical past. If he hasn’t, the following time the three of you speak, I see no cause why you may’t increase the topic of the years he lived with you.
Whenever you do, chorus from calling your ex-wife names. Out of your description of her, she was behaving as she all the time had and considering solely of herself. You’re fortunate to be rid of her.
DEAR ABBY: I’ve a good friend who calls me and talks nonstop for greater than an hour. She is going to ask about me, however I barely get to reply earlier than she hijacks the dialog again to herself.
Final winter, I drove 16 hours to Florida to go to household. She lives 90 miles from the place I used to be staying. After I requested her to satisfy midway for a go to, her response was, “I hope you may come right here. I don’t need to drive that far.” After I defined that I’d pushed in snow and rain and was road-weary, she made every kind of excuses and at last stated, “Properly, you sound too busy.”
She doesn’t have driving points. She works part-time 40 miles from her residence.
I’m actually upset. Do I’ve cause to be?
— LET DOWN IN INDIANA
DEAR LET DOWN: That you’d be upset is comprehensible. The “good friend” you have got described is so centered on herself there isn’t room for you within the relationship. Be glad your eyes are opened.
Minimize these hour-long telephone calls to fifteen minutes, if you happen to select to obtain them in any respect, and free your self from somebody who isn’t, truthfully, a lot of a good friend.
Expensive Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also referred to as Jeanne Phillips, and was based by her mom, Pauline Phillips. Contact Expensive Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Field 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
