This Dear Abby column addresses three different readers seeking advice on family issues. The first letter concerns a strained relationship with a daughter, the second deals with a threatening family member who knows a painful secret, and the third explores the pain of lost friendships due to a loved one's illness.
Dear Abby: My letter of explanation after the disastrous Thanksgiving did no good She’s 22 and has a busy life. I understand her struggles with balancing all the day-to-day commitments, but she will not return my calls or texts. We have had a bruised past because of my divorce five years ago, but we have talked things through to where I feel we have been repairing old wounds. Every time we are together, it’s as if nothing has marred our relationship.
I know she’s young, but I need to know if I should be more persistent or just wait for her to eventually contact me.You didn’t mention how persistent you have been, but you won’t become closer to your daughter if you hound her with requests for more contact. She may be busy, distracted or just self-centered. Text or call her once a month and you may have better luck getting a response.: I was raped by a family member and, due to special circumstances, told no one except one other family member, whom I swore to secrecy. This confidante got mad at me because of my religious beliefs, and now she’s saying if I pass away before she does, she’s going to tell my grown children who assaulted me. I’m praying she said it out of anger, but I’m scared because I know my children would harm the rapist, if not kill him, for what he did. I can’t understand why this family member would say such a thing. What can I say or do to protect my secret? God has taken care of me, and my violator is locked up now for other reasons.Because you are now afraid she will tell your children, approach her by saying that if she follows through, you fear they will take revenge after he is released and, by doing so, ruin their own lives.Before his diagnosis, we had friends we would hang out with and go to dinner with once or twice a month. Now I don’t hear a word from them. They don’t call or text to ask how we are doing. Is it my responsibility to get ahold of them? I feel like I’m all alone in this fight, and they don’t seem to car
Family Relationships Secrets Loss Friendship Illness
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