Dear Abby: My brother is engaged to a argumentative shrew should I break them up?
DEAR ABBY: My brother just got engaged to the “WOAT” (Worst of All Time).They have been dating for 2 1/2 years, and nobody in the family has anything good to say about her.
In the past, he always had stable relationships with girls we really enjoyed.But now he’s getting older, his friends are getting engaged and it seems like he’s settling and feeling pressure.
They are always arguing, and things he never did before he is doing now — multiple job changes, making less time for family, etc.Everyone thinks that, as the oldest brother, I should be the one to voice our concerns about her.Would it be too drastic to tell him it’s a bad idea? I was going to say I support him if he can find three redeeming qualities in her because none of us can find one.
— NO FAN OF HER IN THE EASTDEAR NO FAN: I do not think telling your recently engaged brother that his fiancee is the “worst of all time” and no one in the family can find any redeeming qualities in her would be welcomed.I do think, however, that as the oldest sibling you could point out that you are concerned because he and this woman argue a lot, which is why you are suggesting they seek premarital counseling to head off any problems down the line.
Then cross your fingers that he follows through.DEAR ABBY: Even though we live just an hour away and would like to celebrate holidays with my elderly parents, they prefer to spend them with their friends.This started when my family lived 14 hours away.
We’d come home for either Thanksgiving or Christmas each year.If we weren’t home, my parents got together with a group of childless buddies.
This worked out great — they weren’t alone, and I didn’t feel guilty.We moved back home three years ago, primarily to be near family again.However, my parents spend all the major holidays with their buddies, even if my family is home alone.
Then my mom asks me to host an alternate holiday so the family can get together.Last year, I tried to talk it through ...