Unfair to ask you to ‘forsake’ niece

Dear Annie: After 47 years of marriage, we have a problem we can’t resolve.

My husband does not like my only niece, “Gina,” and doesn’t want her to visit our home. He expects me to tell her she’s not welcome. He believes Gina is a user, but she has never done anything to him or taken advantage of us.

Gina lives 300 miles away, and I love her and enjoy her rare visits. On top of that, my 97-year-old mother lives with us, and I think Gina has the right to see her grandmother whether my husband likes it or not. He thinks I should forbid Gina from coming to our home because our wedding vows included “forsaking all others.”

It would break my niece’s heart if I told her she cannot see her grandmother. I won’t do it. I believe my husband is way out of line. And how would I tell my mom that her only granddaughter won’t be coming to see her anymore? Am I wrong to think he’s being unreasonable? – Frustrated and Depressed

Dear Frustrated: “Forsaking all others” does not mean cutting off your family. It means married people don’t have affairs. And although Hubby’s feelings should be taken into consideration, so should yours. He is being extremely unfair to you and your mother. Decisions like this should not be unilateral. Everyone who lives in the house gets a vote. If your husband doesn’t want to see Gina, he can absent himself when she comes for her infrequent visits to Grandma.