Addicted daughter is a burden to parents
She is my child and I am supposed to love her, but I don't feel any compassion anymore.
What to do?
-- Frustrated
Dear Frustrated: I wonder if there is a (relatively) inexpensive way you can perhaps modify your home so that you and your spouse have more privacy, while still maintaining a supportive proximity to your daughter. Some drywall and a small kitchen unit (available for less than $1,000) might transform her living space into an efficiency.
Continuing her recovery with a goal of perhaps transitioning to a sober living house might give all of you something to aim for -- her drug counselor or therapist could furnish you with additional ideas.
It is vital that you find ways to take care of yourselves during this very stressful caregiving time. Getting together with other caregivers through a "friends and family" support group like Nar-Anon (nar-anon.org) will connect you with other caregivers who can also offer strategies and support.
Dear Amy: My wife (67) and I (73) have worked and saved long and hard so we could enjoy business-class travel in our retirement.
One of the benefits of business-class travel is being able to spend long layovers in the airline's lounge, rather than in a crowded concourse.
Another couple recently decided to join us on a trip to Europe. Even though they have more money than we do, they are so cheap they won't even buy an upgraded economy-class ticket.
Now my wife says we should not use the business-class lounge privileges because our companions are so cheap.
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