Dear Amy: A letter from “Sad Mom” really struck a chord with me. “Sad” was disappointed because her husband was a disinterested and neglectful father to his young daughter. She was wondering if leaving him would be best for their family.
My father was not like “other fathers.” He was a child of divorce and was tossed about in an almost Dickensian manner. It made him a very difficult man. My mother knew this and did the only thing she could do.
She. Was. There.
My mother was available, demonstrative and diplomatic. And, above all, she had a sense of humor. Mother never set my father up so that I would be disappointed in him. She would, at every turn, encourage a relationship between us.
I know that “Sad Mom’s” daughter will come to know the parts of her father that her mother fell in love with. That’s what happened to me. I knew the warning signs and knew I didn’t want the same, so, I married late-ish (mid-30s) but for keeps to a wonderful man who is difficult in his own way, but then again, so am I.
– Mr. Impossible’s Daughter
Dear Daughter: Every family deserves a hero. You were so fortunate to have had a parent who took the long view; the “for better or for worse” view, and made the best out of a tough situation.
…
Dear Amy: I have a cousin who is a mechanic. He is superb with cars. He works at an auto repair shop and is always busy.
In the beginning of last month, he started working on my dad’s car. His car is still not running because my cousin has not finished the work.
My cousin keeps saying, “I’ll finish over the weekend.” The whole month has gone by, and my dad is getting impatient.
Now my car is also not running well. I do not want to ask my cousin for help, even if we live together under one roof.
I don’t understand what his problem is. Maybe it’s because in the past our family has not paid him for working on our cars. He fixes other people’s cars in no time.
The price for the job I want done is $180, which is much cheaper than any other shop, but I don’t want to ask him to do the job because he doesn’t keep his promises. What should I do?
– Auto-motive
Dear Auto: You know the old saying, “You get what you pay for”? Well, my friend, that also means that you don’t get what you don’t pay for.
You should definitely send your car to the garage where your cousin works, especially if the price is right. You’ll have to be like every other valued customer, however. Don’t expect him to fix your car on his own time. Oh, and you’ll have to pay your bill.
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