DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 44 years, and we have a married son and one grandson.
My husband and I moved closer to our son and daughter-in-law five years ago. Once or twice a year, my husband reminds me that I “ruined his life” by forcing him to move closer to our grandson.
On top of that, he dislikes our son’s mother-in-law, something he has made clear to me. He doesn’t want to attend holiday dinners if the mother-in-law is there. (Fortunately, our daughter-in-law is not aware that he dislikes her mother.)
I’m tired of worrying about whether he’ll attend our grandson’s sports activities or events if the other grandmother is there. At this point, I’m actually considering divorce so I won’t be so miserable. Any advice would be appreciated. — FATIGUED IN FLORIDA
DEAR FATIGUED: Unless you hogtied your husband, he must have agreed to move closer to your son and his family. Is the only reason he’s miserable this dislike of his DIL’s mother, or is it that he is separated from his friends?
If it’s the former, go without your husband to your grandson’s events and let him stay home. If it’s more than that, perhaps it might be better for him to return to the community in which he was more comfortable.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.