Height isn't this dating misfit's only challenge
-- Worried
Dear Worried: Maybe your husband doesn't respect women -- or maybe he just doesn't respect you. No matter what inspires this behavior, it is wrong.
Sending profanity-riddled text messages when you are dissatisfied with your birthday gifts isn't the behavior of a mature adult.
Treating the mother of the children in the household this way is not something an "awesome dad" does.
Given that your son presumably does not treat you this way, it makes sense that you would rather see him at the end of the day than your husband. His behavior is that of a very insecure and frustrated person who is venting and lashing out in order to punish and intimidate.
You don't mention how you have reacted to these outbursts. You also don't say if you two have children together, and how they are treated. If they witness angry outbursts, disrespect, intimidation, and threats, it affects them deeply, and changes who they are.
You should save these messages and talk about this during a private, calm moment. Ask him how he would react if someone treated him this way, or if someone else treated you this way. You should insist that he join you in counseling in order to talk about your mutual frustrations, disappointments, sadness, and concerns. If he is frustrated, upset, or raging, he must find a different way to cope and communicate. If his behavior gets worse, you should consider leaving the relationship.
Dear Amy: I hated your one-sided, knee-jerk response to "Not Really Stepdad."
His sexual attraction to his girlfriend's 18-year-old daughter is his own business. He didn't say how old he is -- he might be close to her age! These two are consenting adults. His longtime girlfriend deserves what she gets by getting ugly and fat.
Your answer only reveals your deep hatred of men.
-- Disgusted
Dear Disgusted: "Not Really Stepdad" laid out a classic predation pattern of grooming a child in his household, starting when she was 11 years old.
I don't hate men. But I'll admit to hating this man.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, 16650 Westgrove Drive, Suite 175, Addison, Texas, 75001. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
