Father fears stepson has been caught by a 'cougar'
DEAR WONDERING: You can hope for a peaceful resolution to this, but perhaps a big blowup is inevitable. Don't rule it out -- or be afraid of it. Obviously you have something important to discuss, and this incident will cause you both to face it.
Share your honest reaction with her and ask her to describe what she was thinking when she chose to start shopping herself online. Try to prepare yourself for denials and recriminations -- and also for bad news. Unless you can come to a rational understanding, this should be a deal-breaker for you.
DEAR AMY: Thank you for your reply to "Hurt" and your comments about graduation announcements.
I am one of those people who has done a terrible job over the years keeping up with birthdays, graduations, etc. Over time, with the blessings of more and more friends and family members, it became impossible for me to keep up. All of these years I beat myself up over it -- sometimes trying to make it up to people, sometimes sending very late cards or gifts, but much of the time coming up with nothing.
I am now 63 years old and work continually on forgiving myself. When I die, I hope the beloved people in my life will know that this person, who often fell short of acknowledgments, still loved them deeply. -- Fell Short
DEAR SHORT: You've expressed this beautifully.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook. Amy Dickinson's memoir, "The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter and the Town that Raised Them" (Hyperion), is available in bookstores.)
