In Other Words: “I Was Date Raped”

The following letter appeared in a recent Dear Abby column and was sent to me by a DW reader who was outraged by the advice given. I read the advice and felt torn, which you can read about below, after the jump. I am a junior in high school. Last year, a guy I have known for two years began showing a sexual interest in me. I rejected his advances. Last week, he began expressing his interest again, letting me know he wanted to have sex. He invited me to study — only study — but said we “might” make out. I was a virgin and had never even kissed anyone before….

In Other Words: “My Girlfriend Is $170k In Debt And Didn’t Even Know”

From a recent Savage Love column: I’m a 27-year-old male engaged to a 26-year-old female. We have been together 6 years. We met at college. We’ve lived together for almost three years. We have been saving to buy a house together. Well, I have been. She makes less than me and has a lot more debt than me. We got pre approved. We found a house, loved it, got the offer in. Offer accepted. Home inspection went well. Now we are at the stage where the bank needs us to sign 60 documents in order to actually get the house. Last night I found out that she has $90k more debt than…

In Other Words: “I Don’t Want to Invite My Daughter to Christmas”

Here’s a recent Christmas-themed letter from Dear Prudence you might enjoy, with my advice to follow: My husband and I have two grown daughters, “Holly” and “Ivy.” I also have another much older daughter, “Gertrude,” born during my brief first marriage. Holly and Ivy are both married and have small children. Gertrude never married and has no children. Holly and Ivy have never been particularly close to Gertrude, but in recent years their relationship has deteriorated to the point that Holly and Ivy have told me that they do not wish to visit my house if Gertrude is there. While I don’t know exactly what caused the rift (Gertrude claims to have…

In Other Words: “Can I Wear Pants at My Sister’s Wedding?”

I would love to have a new column for you to read right now but the truth is I haven’t been receiving many letters lately that I find interesting enough to publish. I even went through my “hold” file, filled with several hundred letters I haven’t published and none of them spoke to me either. So I’m going to post a letter from a recent Savage Love column that reminded me of this letter from a couple months back. That will give you something to read and discuss for today, but please, if you have some drama in your life you want some insight on, email me! Bonus if your drama includes…

In Other Words: “My Husband Got My Sister Pregnant”

From a recent Dear Prudence column: When my ex and I were married, we had trouble conceiving and years of heartache. I thought our marriage was strong enough to survive this, then I discovered he was having an affair with my sister. We had a huge, traumatic confrontation and my then husband and I decided to move and make a fresh start. A few weeks after we moved, my sister gave the news that—surprise!—she was pregnant. My ex then divorced me to start a family with her. Because I’d just started a new job and had a mortgage, it was financially impossible for me to leave. I stayed in the new city…

In Other Words: “My Husband is Sleeping With My Mother”

My sister sent me this recent WTF(!!) column from ELLE’s Ask E. Jean, who seems a little off her rocker, maybe? My mother is an attractive, interesting woman who reads ELLE and The Economist, dresses fashionably, and maintains a petite size 2 frame. Recently, I found out that my 39-year-old husband (of 14 years) has been having sex with her when he attends conferences at the resort near where she lives. When he told me, I was bothered by the fact that it didn’t bother me. He’s a wonderful man — father to our two children and a good provider — and he’s always taken care of me emotionally, sexually, and financially….

In Other Words: “I Caught My Son With the Vacuum Cleaner”

This letter is from a recent Dear Prudence column and it makes me uncomfortable. I came home early from work on Friday to the unexpected sound of the vacuum cleaner running in my 12-year-old son’s room. Thinking that perhaps this was a sign of the apocalypse — my son cleaning his room without major nagging on my part — I burst in there and caught him with his pants down and the hose attachment attached to his, well, you know. He froze like a deer in the headlights and, after picking my jaw up off the floor, I mumbled something stupid like “excuse me” and turned around and walked out and hid…

In Other Words: “My Fiancé’s Niece Is His Love Child”

This letter is from a recent Dear Prudence column. It makes yesterday’s column from the woman whose young lover knocked up another woman seem mild.: My mind is still reeling. My fiancé confessed to me last week that his younger niece is actually his child. He had a short affair with his brother’s wife, who conceived the month her husband was away. They ended things just before finding out she was pregnant, and she lied about the dates to cover it up. My fiancé knew all this and said nothing because he didn’t want to break up their family. My fiancé’s brother is a good guy and I genuinely like him. I’ve…

In Other Words: “Should I Tell My In-Laws About My Affair?”

This letter is from a recent Dear Prudence column: My husband was estranged from his parents for many years. He reached out to them when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. They didn’t have enough time to discuss and resolve their past, but they were at peace with each other when he died. Now my husband’s parents wish to keep in touch with me and my toddler-age son, as he is the only link they have to their only child. The problem is that my son is not my husband’s biological child. I had an affair, the biological father dumped me upon realizing I was pregnant, and my husband (to cut…

In Other Words: “My MIL Tried to Nurse My Baby!”

I saw this question from a reader of Slate’s Dear Prudence and was so appalled, I had to share it with you: I had a baby two months ago. About two weeks ago, my husband had to go out of town for a few days, so his mother came to stay with the baby and me. One night I heard the baby crying, and heard my MIL go to him. I thought she was going to bring him to me to nurse so I stayed in bed for a while. When she didn’t bring him, I figured she was just rocking him back to sleep and went to see if she needed…

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