DEAR ABBY

Boyfriend Can’t Fill Father’s Shoes For Daughter

Dear Abby: My husband committed suicide 2 1 /2 years ago. We had been married for 13 years and had two daughters who are now 15 and 9. The l5-year-old seems to be doing fi ne. The 9-year-old is not.

But my biggest problem is my live-in boyfriend, “Tim.” While I love him and mostly enjoy his company, he appears to dislike my 9-year-old.

She needs male attention because her dad was an attentive, wonderful father. I have discussed this with Tim.

His response is he has a hard time doing it because she is “totally out of control and crazy.”

Abby, she is none of that. She is a child with a lot of energy. I don’t know what to do. I know it isn’t fair to my daughter, but I’m lonely and miss Tim when he’s not there. I’d appreciate any advice you can give me. - Trying To Move On In Ohio

Dear Trying: I am so sorry for your loss. However, parents get only one chance at parenting, which is why it’s so important to do it right the first time.

What is happening in your household is unfair toyour daughter. She should not be forced to live with a man who doesn’t like her and can’t give her positive reinforcement.

That’s why, for her sake, it would be better for you and Tim to live apart. If you choose him over your daughter, you will later regret it and could cause her serious emotional problems for decades.

Dear Abby: My husband and I have been married for six years. Before I met him, I was with a woman.

I don’t want my husband to find out about it because I’m afraid it will turn him on and he’ll want to have threesomes. (He enjoys looking at lesbian porn.)

Should I feel this way about telling him? - Wants My Past In The Past

Dear Wants Your Past In The Past: If you think there is a chance that your husband will find out, then the person he should hear it from is you.

And if he suggests having a threesome, tell him that you are happy as things are and you prefer to remain monogamous.

DEAR ABBY IS WRITTEN BY ABIGAIL VAN BUREN, ALSO KNOWN AS JEANNE PHILLIPS, AND WAS FOUNDED BY HER MOTHER, PAULINE PHILLIPS.

WRITE DEAR ABBY AT WWW.

DEARABBY.COM OR P.O. BOX 69440, LOS ANGELES, CA 90069.

Outdoor, Pages 10 on 11/29/2012

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