DEAR ABBY: Man Begins To Regret Giving Ex-Wife Place To Stay

Dear Abby: My ex-wife cheated on me fi ve years ago. She ran off with a nonworking criminal type and has been bouncing from place to place with this bozo ever since.

When they and their 3-year-old became homeless two weeks ago, all of a sudden she showed up at my door shoeless and with their son in a diaper. She said her boyfriend was abusive and asked to stay with me until she finds a place. I agreed under the provision that she not see this guy.

I am a hard-working single father of two. I know my heart is two sizes too big for my own good sometimes, and I don’t want to be takenadvantage of. Abby, did I make the right choice? Or should I have told her she was not welcome and turned her and her son away?

I need guidance and your expert advice. Am I an idiot? - Confused

Dear Confused: You’re not an idiot; you’re a pushover. You have helped her for two weeks. Now it’s time to direct her to a shelter that can help her get her life back together and give her son a stable home. Your responsibility for her welfare ended when she left you for another man.

Dear Abby: I just fi nished reading the letter from “Cafe Crazy” (Jan. 4), about the woman changing the baby on the restaurant’s table. You advised that she should have taken the baby to the ladies’ room to change it on a changing table there, and if there wasn’t one, there should be.

I am a stay-at-home father and many times have had to resort to an awkward changing table alternative to accomplish the task (though never a restaurant table) as there are very few changing tables in men’s rooms. Abby, please help us proud papas to raise our children with the same facilities allowed the mommas of the world! - Grant In Sunnyvale, Calif.

Dear Grant: I apologize, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to not only help fathers everywhere to raise their children, but also to raise consciousness where it is needed. Since the letter from “Cafe Crazy” was printed, I have heard from parents of both sexes, as far away as Denmark. Although some men’s restrooms are equipped with changing tables, not all are - and they should be. Another solution is a “family” restroom; however, many establishments have neither the money nor the room to install a third one.

WRITE DEAR ABBY AT WWW.

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

Outdoor, Pages 8 on 02/28/2013

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