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Woman Wonders Why Son Didn’t Reveal Partner’s Miscarriage

DEAR ABBY: I thought my son and I were close. Recently, I learned that his girlfriend had a miscarriage. I learned about it from an email his girlfriend sent me, and I have also learned he told another relative he’s close to about the miscarriage. I called his girlfriend after receiving her email and expressed my sympathy, inquired about her health and told her that I would keep her and my son in my prayers. My feelings are hurt because I didn’t hear about the pregnancy/miscarriage from my son, and he disclosed it to another relative instead. I thought we could discuss anything -- ...

2020 Holiday Celebrations and The Virus

The year 2020 started out with such promise: A new year, a new decade, and as Hope Springs Eternal maybe your favorite football team will play in the Super Bowl. Then a pesky haloed single strand RNA virus stopped the world! Suddenly, our vocabulary expanded with words like: Outbreak, Epidemic, Pandemic, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Community Spread, Index Case, Super Spreader, Isolation, Quarantine, Containment, Mitigation, Contact Tracing, Shelter-In-Place, Flattening the Curve, Herd Immunity, Antigens, Antibodies, PCR-testing, Hand hygiene, Hybrid Schooling, Risk Benefit ...

Take a Moment And Write

Dear Heloise: I know some people have more time on their hands these days and ask how they should fill the hours. I’ve recently started writing letters to seniors in assisted living or nursing facilities. Many can no longer have visitors or go on outings to fill their days. I found a website that collects and sends out letters to seniors in isolation, letting them know they are on people’s minds. I’ve sent letters to seniors in Canada, Minnesota and Illinois. I’m not creative, so I just write letters like I would to an acquaintance. I talk about the area I live in, and if ...

Grandma Raising Young Girls Grows Tired Of Mom’s Antics

DEAR ABBY: I am raising my two granddaughters and trying to allow their mother, my daughter, to visit with them. My problem is, the entire time she is with us, she stays on her phone or Snapchat. Last weekend, I drove to the place where she resides, and the whole time we were there she ignored the girls. I have a ton of family and friends who say I’m wrong for allowing her to even see the girls, period. I don’t want to be the bad guy when they grow up. Help, Abby. — FOR THEIR GOOD IN OHIO DEAR FOR THEIR GOOD: Either your daughter doesn’t know how to relate to her children, ...

Tiny Letters On The Page

Today’s Sound Off is about small print: Dear Heloise: I’m beginning to see a trend in printed materials that concerns me. I’ve noticed recently that publications like magazines and catalogs are using an extremely small font that is practically impossible to read. I noticed this in a recent issue of a well-known women’s magazine. Almost the whole magazine was printed with this tiny font. Just looking at the pages gave me a headache. I also noticed this in a couple of catalogs (fortunately, only on the order forms) and even in a recent coupon flyer. Some of the print in these ...

Grind of Pandemic Taking a Toll On Couple’s Ability To Connect

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have experienced a serious disconnect since the COVID-19 outbreak. I have very little interest in him and ZERO desire when it comes to sex. We have two small children at home, so Mommy/Daddy time is now nonexistent. We haven’t left our home in five months and I’m beyond frustrated. I know he wants to keep us safe, but when I see pictures online and hear about my friends and family still going out — living their lives — it makes me depressed, anxious and to be honest, grumpy! He says he loves me, but he has started to resemble a Neanderthal. He ...