January 13, 2024 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Activities 4 - The Elk City News January 13, 2024 Relatives Made Promises That @IPLEY’S Believe It or Not! They’ve Never Kept how to express that we need Am I obligated to stay in con- Dear Abby more support than they are tact with his family because of offering. - NEEDY MOM IN our daughter? They are kind DEAR ABBY: Before we NEW ZEALAND and courteous when I call, but had children, my stepmother no longer invite us to visit. dropped many “hints” en- DEAR MOM: You were for- My mother-in-law has also couraging us to have kids, and tunate to have a grandmother stopped sending me and my promised multiple times that who had the time AND THE daughter gifts on special occa- she would retire when we did DESIRE to look after you, but sions. to help out with them. We not all families are the same. If How healthy is it to stay in now have a 6-year-old and an you are a regular “Dear Abby” contact, and for how long? I 18-month-old. When we ask reader, you likely know I often feel bad because my daughter my father and stepmother to receive mail from folks com- plaining that they don’t have doesn’t really have any family Over ture consecutive babysit or watch the kids, they enough access to their grand- anymore. How should I contin- YEARS, VIRGINIA MOTHER say, “We'd love to, but now is children. ue with his side of the family? SHALONDA Dominiaue GAVE not convenient.” Tm sorry your stepmother ~ A BIT LOST IN WASHING- BIRTH TO THREE BOYS, ALL ON tue TOWN oF CODELL, They live seven minutes raised your expectations and TON THE GAME DAY, MARCH [3 — KANGAS, WAS HIT BY A away, but have never offered hasn't followed through. If you DEAR LOST: I see nothing Tre IN ZOIS, SANTANA IN TORNADO ON THE SAME DATE, to babysit. They watch the kids think she and your dad will to be gained by slamming any ZOKU, anv Harte in ZOIS. May ZO, For THREE maybe once out of 20 times change their ways, explain to doors. Relationships evolve, CONSECUTIVE YEARS— that we ask. They do drop by to them that you need their help. and the relationship you have (16, 1917, anv (918. see us asa family when it’s con- However, if it isn’t forthcom- with your late husband’s fam- venient for them, and my chil- ing, accept that you will have ily seems to be evolving away. dren adore them. Whenever to hire a babysitter on those Keep things as cordial as you Waren Katy, Texas, they drop by, we stop whatever occasions. FLOODED ON Arrit (8, ZOIG, can, if only for your daugh- <7 MibwiFe CATHY ALLEN RUDE we're doing to spend time with ter's sake, by sending cards a’ §) ROvE AN INFLATABLE GWAN them because those relation- DEAR ABBY: My husband, on appropriate occasions, Do yx THROUGH THE FLOODED ships are important for us and not burn any bridges. If your “Dan,” died 4 1/2 years ago. STREETS TO HER our children. daughter wants to reach out We were together for 17 years. WORKPLACE, THE KATY Culturally, it’s the norm Thave stayed in touch with his to these family members, she BirtH Center. for grandparents to watch mother and one of his sisters. is old enough to do it without children. My grandparents His family is politically the op- your help, ye.com 0.2024 Ripley Entertainment inc. ff watched us often as children, posite of my daughter and me, Dear Abby is written by Abigail especially after my mother and very religious (we are not). Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Crossword died. I never expected my step- He had twin adult children I Phillips, and was founded by her mother to actually quit her job also stay in contact with. They mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact to watch our kids, but I really are the only family I have in the Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com ACROSS did anticipate more support area. We also have a 20-year- or PO. Box 69440, Los Angeles, 1 Polish to a than we receive. I don’t know old daughter together. 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