Browsing: Lifestyle
Dear Readers: A recent question from a dad (“J”) who felt pressured by his mother to attend family events over his kids’ sporting events prompted a lively response on both sides of a consistent and challenging parenting issue: The pressure sports programs place on players and their parents, who are frequently required to travel to games on weekends and over holidays.
However, neither intends to be vaccinated. Because of their experience, they believe it is no worse than the flu, and both have been sharply critical of the government, particularly with regard to public health measures like mask mandates, which they consider unnecessary and infringements of their personal liberty.
Before the New River Gorge Bridge was completed in 1977, it took drivers about 45 minutes to get from one side of the river to the other, down and around winding mountain roads. Now, it usually takes just about a minute to cross the third-highest bridge in the U.S. (Terri Colby/for the Chicago Tribune)
Nursing is an extremely challenging and rewarding career. The schooling is tough, but nurses are in high demand and the pay can be very good. If your daughter is truly motivated to attend nursing school, she will find a way to do that, and you should support her interest and efforts to get there, without necessarily paying the tab.
If your real spouse is uncomfortable with the idea of a work spouse altogether, you should take a step back and reevaluate. In fact, there is some research that shows the majority of employees that have work spouses are admittedly romantically attracted to them. And I will be humble and honest here: If my husband had a work spouse, I would have an issue with it, and I can say for him, on the record, he would feel the same way. Your boundaries become blurred.
A: Yes. I’m excited to see all the athletes. In the past year, there’s been a time for them to do a lot of training, a lot of thinking, a lot of preparation, so I think they will be at their best at the Games. I think a lot of athletes are ready to have a breakout party, so I’m looking forward to it.
Years ago, I had a distant friend call at the very last minute and I offered her a bed for the night. She brought her own sheets and towel, tea, granola, etc., almost as if she were camping. I was impressed that she was so prepared to be such a low-trace guest. (I was extremely happy when she agreed to stay a second night.)
If you had disclosed your addiction earlier, you would have had the opportunity to open his eyes to the reality of addiction disorder, which many people see as a character flaw, when it is in fact an illness that requires a great deal of discipline (and occasionally medication and rehab support) to recover from.
Regardless, this “my house, my rules” notion may sound like she is drawing a battle line, but it is a true fact that parents control access to their children. And now because you don’t seem inclined to respect these rules or limits, you are being kept at arms’ length.
Dear Amy: I have had a horrific pandemic year: Pandemic, breast cancer diagnosis, a child with depression, suicide ideation and a long stay in a psychiatric facility for them — and our business almost failed. All of these have turned out OK, but we are still reeling.