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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Annie’s Mailbox: Mom poisoning others against dad

Kathy Mitchell/Marcy Sugar

Dear Annie: I am a 17-year-old girl, and my parents are in the middle of a divorce. That is not the problem. I am really happy they are divorcing.

The problem is, my mother has been telling everyone that Dad had an affair and that The Other Woman is the cause of the divorce. This makes things really awkward for me, especially around my friends whose parents know my mom.

Annie, I don’t care if my Dad had an affair, and the truth is, I don’t blame him. I have sat on the stairs and listened to my parents fight for years. I have heard my dad beg Mom to love him back, to talk to him, to do things with him and be affectionate. I love my mother, but she is the real reason they are getting divorced.

Dad is now living with his “friend,” and I secretly hope they stay together. I like her. He is happy and so much more relaxed now. I love being around him and his girlfriend, but of course, I can’t tell anyone this.

Mom has poisoned everyone in the family, making them believe Dad is a horrible person who left her for another woman. How do I get her to stop saying things that will make people blame my father and feel sorry for Mom? – Me

Dear Me: Neither of your parents should be bad-mouthing the other. It is grossly unfair to you. Tell your mother to please stop saying terrible things about Dad because you love him and her comments make him an object of derision in your community, which reflects poorly on the entire family. Then speak to your school counselor and ask for help.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@ comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.