DEAR ABBY: My son, a highschool senior, was in a relationship with a younger lady who broke up with him and started courting his greatest pal. He was heartbroken. She performed him into being buddies and tells him he is her greatest pal, however her actions show in any other case.

His father and I comforted him as greatest we may, however he nonetheless has emotions for her. It was a tricky breakup for him, and he says he cannot perceive why he feels this fashion for her. We as mother and father are having a tough time maintaining our opinions to ourselves. We’re not pleased with him nonetheless being round her and attempt to discourage it as a lot as potential.

All of us attend the identical church, from which I’ve supplied to take away myself, however my son says no. We restrict the time he will get to be round her, however she has begun flaunting different dates in entrance of him, which is making it exhausting for us to be cordial towards her.

How can I assist my boy heal his coronary heart and transfer on? He is my youngest, the final one able to enterprise out to school, and I would like him to have a recent begin for the brand new journey. — HEAVY-HEARTED MOM

DEAR MOM: Some classes in life folks should be taught for themselves, and that is one among them. As a lot as you want to assist your son heal his coronary heart, he’ll need to arrive on the realization that there is extra ache than pleasure related to the woman who rejected him. That’s when he’ll transfer on, not earlier than.

Faculty will present him a chance to fulfill new folks and domesticate new pursuits. Being in a brand new atmosphere will even assist. Within the meantime, be affected person, chorus from saying something nasty (as tempting because it could be) about his former girlfriend and preserve your son as busy as you may.

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married to the identical lady for 34 years. We’ve raised two nice youngsters. The issue is, my spouse doesn’t present, reply to or provoke any affection or intimacy. I perceive she has been by means of menopause, however is that this the brand new regular? For me it’s a lonely, chilly existence. Most nights she will not even share the identical mattress with me. She additionally doesn’t reply effectively to speaking about issues. Should I dwell the remainder of my life this fashion? — ROOMMATE IN VIRGINIA

DEAR ROOMMATE: Your downside is much less concerning the lack of affection and intimacy in your marriage and way more concerning the lack of communication your spouse means that you can have together with her. If an issue cannot be mentioned, there isn’t any approach to arrive at an answer or a compromise.

If you have not advised her how lonely and remoted you are feeling, begin there. What’s occurring just isn’t honest to you. That is one thing that ought to be mentioned together with her physician as a result of there could also be a medical resolution if intercourse is painful for her.

Nonetheless, whether it is extra sophisticated than that, acknowledge that you just want extra assist than I can provide you in a letter or a newspaper column, and ask your physician or insurance coverage firm to refer you to a licensed marriage and household therapist for the solutions you’re searching for. In case your spouse refuses to go along with you, go with out her.

TO MY MUSLIM READERS: It’s time for the breaking of the Ramadan quick. Completely happy Eid al-Fitr, everybody. — ABBY

Expensive Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also called Jeanne Phillips, and was based by her mom, Pauline Phillips. Contact Expensive Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Field 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Abby shares greater than 100 of her favourite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favourite Recipes” and “Extra Favourite Recipes by Expensive Abby.” Ship your title and mailing tackle, plus test or cash order for $16 (U.S. funds) to: Expensive Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Field 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Delivery and dealing with are included within the value.)