DEAR ABBY: My son-in-law is never on time for anything.
Related Articles
Dear Abby: We can’t find one good thing about my brother’s fiancee
Dear Abby: Everyone else is piling on her ex-husband, but I heard his side of it
Dear Abby: My husband threw me under the bus to settle a dispute with his friends
Dear Abby: My in-laws think my surgeries are a joke
Dear Abby: The strange neighbor walked in when I was home alone
He’s in charge of driving his young son to elementary school and is consistently late by four or five minutes. He and my daughter have gotten letters reminding them of the importance of being on time. I witness this because we share a home.
He was fired from his last job due to lateness.
I am a very punctual person, so his lateness for everything drives me crazy. I have tried to lightheartedly address it, to no avail.
My husband and I are retired, and I suggested to my husband that I could offer to take our grandson to school, but my husband says I should stay out of it. How do I cope with this?
— PUNCTUAL IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR PUNCTUAL: Your grandson should not have to suffer because of his father’s irresponsibility. It is important that he get to school on time, with no black marks for tardiness on his record. If that means your daughter, you or your husband sees that he gets there in a timely fashion, so be it.
Of course, this does not solve the problem of your son-in-law’s habitual lateness. But perhaps he will learn better habits when word gets around that he can’t punch a clock on time when prospective employers ask for references.
DEAR ABBY: Over the last few years, my family has faced a lot of loss, especially my mother.
In the span of three years, she has lost her parents, my father and my brother. We had a little joy with my son being born. He brought a lot of happiness when everybody was heartbroken.
Right after my brother’s death, we found out we were unexpectedly pregnant again. We thought this would bring more joy for Mom, but we are getting bad news from the doctors, and the baby may not make it to term or survive very long after birth.
I’m not sure how to break this news to Mom, and my wife is getting to where we can no longer hide that she’s pregnant.
We are getting a second opinion, but although we are holding out hope, I’m not sure it will change the situation.
Related Articles
Jill On Money: RIP CFPB
Travel Troubleshooter: Passenger pays extra for early flight but gets a later one instead
Asking Eric: Our bossy sister said there won’t be a party. How do we make it happen?
Harriette Cole: I get all fluttery about my ex. How do I stay away from him?
Miss Manners: The party guest implied I don’t want to celebrate my marriage
We know we have to tell Mom something. Any advice on how to tell her without breaking her heart?
— WITHHOLDING IN NEW ENGLAND
DEAR WITHHOLDING: My condolences to your mother, who has experienced a lot of loss in recent years. However, she is an adult and deserves to be a full participant in your lives and treated as such.
For her sake (and yours), tell her what is going on and give her the chance to be supportive of you. If you do, of course the news will be sad, but she won’t be deprived of the chance to do for you what you have been doing for her.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
