Dear Queenie,
My husband never lets me finish what I am trying to say. He starts answering what I am saying before I finish saying it, so sometimes he doesn’t really understand what I am trying to say.
Queenie, how can I get him listen to me?—Interrupted wife
Dear Wife,
Have you told him how annoying this is? If not, try to explain it to him – hopefully he will hear what you are saying.
If that does not work, stop talking as soon as he interrupts you. If he misunderstands what you were trying to say, you can try to correct him or you can just ignore him, but try to be patient with him and not get angry.
Dear Queenie,
I love my wife so much and I try to show her by remembering our anniversary and her birthday and giving her flowers and presents, but is that enough?
Queenie, I’m not good at talking about such things. How can I let her know how much I love her?—Tongue-tied husband
Dear Husband,
Flowers and gifts are all very well, but you do not have to be “good at talking about such things” to simply give her a kiss or a hug and say “I love you” now and then, and to turn off the air conditioner when it makes her feel chilly, even if you then feel a little warm.
Dear Queenie,
I have always loved to read and I have kept every book I have ever read. One room in my house is my library and by now it is full of books. I could do other things with this room if it wasn’t full of books, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of them.
Queenie, what should I do?—Bibliophile
Dear Bibliophile,
Sort through your books and only keep the ones you think you will want to read again. If that does not leave you with enough space to do what you want with your “library”, consider disposing of the “read-overs” as well and planning to read them again on an e-reader.
Dear Queenie,
I was not raised in a religious home but since the COVID-19 pandemic I have become more interested in religion. I have studied it and consulted with a pastor and when I get married and have children I want to raise them in a religious home.
However, when I try to talk to my fiancé about all this he just nods and agrees with whatever I say and changes the subject.
Queenie, how can I be sure he will help me raise our children in a religious home?—Recent convert
Dear Convert,
Your fiancé is behaving as though he thinks you are just going through a phase. If he had any real interest in your religion he would try to learn more about it. He may allow you to raise your children to be as religious as you are, but he is not likely to help.
The only way you can be sure of having a sufficiently religious home in which to raise your children is to marry a man who feels the same way about it as you do.
Dear Queenie,
I went back to school after my children were all grown up and out on their own and I got a degree in a field that always interested me and that I can get a good job in. I posed for photos with the rest of my graduating class and bought a class ring but my best friend says I’m too old for that kind of foolishness.
Queenie, is she right?—Middle-aged graduate
Dear Graduate,
An accomplishment like yours should be celebrated in any (non-destructive) way that makes you happy. Your best friend should be congratulating you, not trying to make you feel foolish.
And you have my congratulations, for what they are worth to you.
