Advice archives

DEAR AMY: I have a 4-year-old daughter. Her father and I separated when she was 1, but he and his family have been loving and involved in her life.

She spends two days a week with them, goes on special outings, and they watch her when she is too ill to go to day care.

I am expecting another daughter this summer. Her father left me for another woman when I was 10 weeks pregnant.

He blocked my phone number. He has not contacted me in more than four months. It especially bothers me (aside from my broken heart) because he has three teenage daughters he is quite close to, so he is fully aware of what he is giving up. It appears that he and his family are going to pretend that this baby girl does not exist.

My question is: How do I compensate for his absence, so that my younger daughter does not feel less loved or wanted than her older sister?


DEAR WORRIED: First, you must do what you can to ensure that the father of your younger child steps up, at least in terms of financially providing for his child. You should contact his parents to make sure they are aware of this baby and that you are open to the child having a relationship with them.

Aside from this, compensation for this unhealthy situation will happen in many ways. I hope your 4-year-old's grandparents will treat your baby with the same love and devotion they show your older daughter. This would be ideal.


Because you don't live with either father, you will start to describe this when your younger daughter is about 3. Tell her she has a dad and say his name. Tell her he decided to stay away before she was born. Don't lead with your heartbreak, and answer questions truthfully and neutrally. Tell her the names of all the people -- aunts and uncles, friends and family -- who know and love her.

One key relationship will be the one between your two daughters. Encourage them to always be kind, loving and close.

DEAR AMY: "Startled" wrote to you saying she had been in an abusive marriage for many years. After her husband's death, she is now with a guy who has an explosive temper (though not toward her).

My parents abused me when I was growing up. I married a guy with a temper. We are happily married after 40 years.

I don't know how I got so smart way back then, but I used to tell him that reacting the way he did whenever we were at odds was cheating, since he could win any argument by showing physical signs of anger (such as balling his fist, shouting, slamming things -- he never, ever touched me), because the minute he showed that aggression, I'd back down.

When I said it, my guy, whom I never doubted for a moment loved me like crazy, heard me!

Still Happy

DEAR HAPPY: Very wise. I'm so happy this worked for you both.
