A couple's dream vacation to Disneyland has been upstaged by their blended family dynamics. The husband, who bought tickets and reserved meals for a romantic getaway with his wife, had invited their youngest son to join them, citing his proximity as the reason. However, this addition changed the dynamics of the trip, leaving the wife feeling like she's lost her chance at some quality time with her spouse.
The wife, who has always put the needs of her family first, felt blindsided by her husband's decision and is now struggling to convince him that she deserves a break from childcare responsibilities. She had planned the trip for years, scrimping and saving, only to have it hijacked by her son.
Dear Abby advises that the wife shouldn't feel obligated to justify why she needs this vacation to her husband. The couple should have discussed the plans before inviting their child along, and now they're facing an unexpected expense. It's time for the wife to prioritize her own desires and consider scheduling a separate trip just for herself, as she has earned it after years of putting others first.
Meanwhile, another reader, Feeling a Bit Scared in Indiana, is torn between exploring a new relationship and potentially sacrificing her emotional well-being. She's being wooed by a man who wants to be a platonic roommate, but there's an undercurrent of attraction that could jeopardize their living arrangement.
Dear Abby warns against proceeding with the arrangement if the couple is sexually attracted to each other, as it may lead to frustration and pain down the line. It's essential for Feeling a Bit Scared to establish clear boundaries and define the relationship before inviting him into her home. Until then, it's better to maintain a safe distance and focus on nurturing a more defined connection.
For those seeking love and companionship in their golden years, Dear Abby has two booklets – "Abby's Favorite Recipes" and "More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby" – filled with tried-and-true recipes and relationship wisdom.
The wife, who has always put the needs of her family first, felt blindsided by her husband's decision and is now struggling to convince him that she deserves a break from childcare responsibilities. She had planned the trip for years, scrimping and saving, only to have it hijacked by her son.
Dear Abby advises that the wife shouldn't feel obligated to justify why she needs this vacation to her husband. The couple should have discussed the plans before inviting their child along, and now they're facing an unexpected expense. It's time for the wife to prioritize her own desires and consider scheduling a separate trip just for herself, as she has earned it after years of putting others first.
Meanwhile, another reader, Feeling a Bit Scared in Indiana, is torn between exploring a new relationship and potentially sacrificing her emotional well-being. She's being wooed by a man who wants to be a platonic roommate, but there's an undercurrent of attraction that could jeopardize their living arrangement.
Dear Abby warns against proceeding with the arrangement if the couple is sexually attracted to each other, as it may lead to frustration and pain down the line. It's essential for Feeling a Bit Scared to establish clear boundaries and define the relationship before inviting him into her home. Until then, it's better to maintain a safe distance and focus on nurturing a more defined connection.
For those seeking love and companionship in their golden years, Dear Abby has two booklets – "Abby's Favorite Recipes" and "More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby" – filled with tried-and-true recipes and relationship wisdom.
. It sounds like they didn't have a clear plan for their trip and then added an extra person at the last minute, which threw off their entire vibe. I get why she wants some quality time with her hubby, but he should've had an open convo about it before inviting their kid along 
.
! Inviting someone into your home without clear boundaries is just asking for trouble. It's great that Dear Abby is warning her against pursuing anything that could lead to frustration or pain down the line 
. She should focus on building a stronger connection with this guy before making things more serious 
.
! Who doesn't need some good advice on how to navigate life's ups and downs?
Family Vacation Fails 
A couple's dream trip to Disneyland turns into a relationship test 
. The wife feels like she lost her chance at some quality time with her spouse 
, while the husband is all about the kids 
. Guess it's time for mom to take a break and get her own "me" time 
. Dear Abby's got your back (and your heart) 
And if you're in your golden years, looking for love and companionship... just use the recipe book 
! Trust me, these recipes are a real page-turner 
. But what really gets me is how this situation highlights the tension between putting others first and prioritizing one's own needs. We often talk about self-care, but in reality, it's hard to practice when you're constantly juggling everyone else's expectations.
– not just from childcare duties, but also from feeling like her desires are always secondary to others. And as for Feeling a Bit Scared, she needs to trust her instincts and set some clear boundaries with this new guy 
I feel so bad for the wife on this Disney trip drama... I mean, she's already sacrificing so much as a mom, can't her hubby just give her a break? Like, they're gonna make it work somehow, right? And what about that Dear Abby advice to prioritize herself? That's so true... I've been there in uni exams where I just need some me time 
. Can't let someone swoop into your life and mess with your emotions, you know?
. She must've been counting down the days until they could finally relax together as a couple, but now it's like her husband took away her chance to just be with him. I get why she needs some space and time just for herself - all those years of being a mom should count for something 
. And poor Feeling a Bit Scared in Indiana... I don't blame her for wanting to know if this guy is right for her before inviting him into her home 
. Boundaries are everything when it comes to relationships, you know? It's like, can we just have open and honest conversations without being scared or worried about getting hurt? 
I feel so bad for the wife who was really looking forward to a romantic break with her hubby. I think it's totally understandable that she feels blindsided by the addition of their youngest son to the trip. 
But maybe they could've had a more open conversation about it before making the change 
? Communication is key in any relationship, and this situation could've been avoided if they'd just talked things through 
. It's all about self-love and prioritizing your own needs, fam 
it's wild how our plans can get derailed by the people we love the most, isn't it? like, i think it's easy to forget that we need some space and time to ourselves, especially when we're trying to recharge and relax on a vacation. but at the same time, it's hard not to feel guilty or selfish when we're the ones who have been prioritizing others' needs for so long... 
... like she planned that whole trip just for them to spend some quality time together and then her husband goes and changes the plans on her 
.
. Like, if he really wanted some alone time with his wife, they should've talked about that instead of inviting their kid along 
.
. It's all about prioritizing self-care and making sure you're not compromising on what you want 
. It sounds like he's got some strings attached and it's better to err on the side of caution. No rush to invite him into your home if you're not sure how things are gonna play out 
. Establishing clear boundaries is key, especially when it comes to something that could get messy. Wish her all the best in figuring this out 
And yeah, now they're gonna have to shell out more cash for the kid's food and stuff... not cool, dude 
. 
. If Feeling a Bit Scared is really feeling that vibe with this guy, she should totally talk to him about it ASAP 
. Priorities, people! 
... those booklets sound so helpful! Maybe the wife could use a little reminder about prioritizing her own needs too 