Dear Amy: Almost two years ago our son (youngest of four) who is now 17, pleaded with us to get a dog until we finally, and reluctantly, agreed.
I was against this idea, unless certain conditions regarding the daily care of the dog were met by our son. I wanted to create a contract with written rules and regulations regarding the dog that my son would sign and have to live by.
My wife strongly disagreed, and after further pressure and promises that our son and my wife would be responsible for taking care of the dog, I agreed to get one if they would hold up their end of the bargain.
Fast forward to today. Yup, you got it, guess who is not fulfilling their end of the bargain and guess who gets stuck with taking care of the dog on a daily basis? Me.
My wife can’t bear the thought of disappointing our son by “taking away his dog.” I am more inclined to say, “Too bad, he needs to learn a life lesson here.”
Because I work from home, I have inherited this big and shaggy problem. I made it crystal-clear before we got the dog that I absolutely did not want one, and was overwhelmingly assured I wouldn’t have to deal with it. Boy was I wrong!
Any advice? I want to keep the peace within the family and if I got rid of the dog that would cause some trouble. Any ideas? — Desperate Dad
Dear Dad: Actor Ben Affleck said in an interview that when he begged for a dog as a kid, his mother made him “walk” an imaginary dog for a week. When young Ben missed two days of walking his phantom dog, she didn’t let him get a real one. Smart mom.
You deserve a change — and so does the dog.
Say, “This isn’t working out. This poor dog is not getting the attention he deserves, and you have not stepped up in the way you agreed to before we got him. Unless things change radically, I’ll have to find a new home for him.”
Take a month to see if the family can adhere to a schedule where you all share the dog-duties (it shouldn’t fall to any one person). If they don’t care enough to step up, they are basically turning stewardship of this animal over to you. And so you will have to do what you think is best.
Dear Amy: I am “married” to a friend on Facebook. We’ve both had this Facebook status for a long time. We used to be really close, but lately we have not spoken to each other.
I hear stories from our mutual friends because she does not tell me anything. I don’t want to be “married” to her anymore.
Besides the fact that she has changed, it also just doesn’t look professional to be married when you are not. I want people to know my real relationship status, not one I did just for fun.
We have not talked in weeks; how can I just bring it up? I want to distance myself from her, but I don’t want to cut her out completely. How can I tell her without getting in too deep or pushing myself further away? — Torn
Dear Torn: You don’t have to discuss this. Change your Facebook status, and if she notices and contacts you, you need only tell her “I don’t think it’s a good idea any more to say I’m married when I’m not.”
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