ArcaMax

In my opinion, you should be furious — and also “shrug it off.” What I mean is that you should not convey any particular strong emotion in response, but back away definitively from this person — disengaging from him via all channels — phone, email and social media.

No, you cannot be friends with this man. You should not have any contact with him at all, and if he continues to leap over boundaries in order to be in touch with you (showing up in person at your house or workplace), you should gather all the evidence and consider getting a restraining order.

I believe it is possible in some cases to transition into friendship when a romance doesn’t click, but it is only possible with rational, reasonable, emotionally healthy people. In short: NOT this guy.

Dear Amy: During the current pandemic, my wife and I have been hosting a family member in our home. This person, “Pam,” is a cousin in her late-20s. She is pretty easy to live with, and we don’t mind having her with us (two of our children, also in their 20s, are currently with us too).

Pam pitches in and has learned to cook, sharing many household duties with the rest of the us.

One thing bothers me. My wife and I are not pushy Christians, but we are churchgoers. We and our kids have been saying “grace” together every night for the entirety of their lives. We say a very simple blessing that is easy to learn and say.

Every night, we say the blessing together and Pam just sits there. It is as if she is refusing to do this one thing that the rest of us feel is an important ritual.

Am I asking too much to ask or expect her to say this blessing along with the rest of us?

— Blessed Dad

Dear Blessed: Yes, asking or expecting “Pam” to say grace along with you is asking too much. She seems to be sitting quietly and respectfully while the rest of the family speaks the prayer aloud. Do not impose your faith practice onto her.

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