Dear Queenie,
My children are all grown up and have good jobs and at every special event I give them money plus a personal item.
Queenie, is there anything else I should be doing?—Their father
Dear Father,
The gifts may be nice, but it is the time you spend with your children that really matters. I hope you are also giving them that gift too.
Dear Queenie,
I work full time and sometimes overtime when necessary. My wife thinks when I’m off work I should help her around the house because keeping house is also a full-time job.
Queenie, I don’t mind doing it once in a while but she thinks it should be all the time. What do you think?—Overworked husband
Dear Husband,
Tell your wife you do not mind helping out once in a while, but if she wants help all the time she should hire someone – for which you would be paying.
Dear Queenie,
My sister is dating a man who works for me and he is trying to act like one of the family. This is no problem for me at work, but at family events it is different. He tries to help out and it doesn’t matter to him if anyone objects.
Queenie, I don’t want to make a scene, but what can I do?—Older brother
Dear Brother,
Relax. What he is doing does not reflect on you. If anyone else objects they can let him know – politely, I hope. Meanwhile, accept the situation and try to stay calm.
Dear Queenie,
I have always wanted to move away from here and I have been planning to do so, but my girlfriend likes it here and doesn’t want to go. She doesn’t even like to travel. So I have stayed here.
Now I have a chance to go away, but my girlfriend isn’t interested. My family thinks she is holding me back and I should go, but she does make me happy.
Queenie, should I go without her or stay for her sake?—Can’t decide
Dear Can’t decide,
Your family is right. If you do not take this chance, you may be stuck where you are forever. Under those circumstances, how long will you be happy with your stick-in-the mud girlfriend?
Dear Queenie,
My daughter just got divorced. Her ex-husband is a nice guy and I like him very much, but she doesn’t want me to have anything to do with him any more.
Queenie, I love my daughter, but I don’t like what she wants me to do. What do you think I should (or should not) do?—Ex-mother-in-law
Dear Ex-mother-in-law,
If your daughter had children with this man he is still their father and you are still their grandmother, so it would be good to maintain a civil relationship with him for the children’s sake. Otherwise, your decision will depend on what your daughter will do if you do not abide by her wishes.
