I lived with my fiancé when his career made him a local celebrity; to my surprise, I too was caught up in it, with the media following me around. 

So when he cheated on me, EVERYONE read/heard about it and questioned me about it.

A year after our break-up, I still feel wounded and can’t take any guy seriously enough to date.

- Exposed

Getting burned while in the limelight often takes more healing time than more commonplace break-ups. But your experience was instructive: You’re not comfortable with notoriety, and should seek a more private union in future. 

DO take guys seriously, so you can select the right fit for you next time.

We’re in a five-year second marriage (for both) and retired; whenever we visited his son and wife in another city, they ignored me, didn’t respond to my conversation, and were plain rude. Even my husband agrees they were cold and rejecting to me, despite my being polite, friendly, offering to help out and bringing gifts and playing with their very young children. 

Now they’re divorcing and the son and his children will be visiting here two weeks. Although I like the children, they’re a handful and I do NOT wish to be full-time Nanny, while their father and grandfather visit old friends and relatives.

I feel trapped and resentful since my husband has assumed that babysitting will be my role. I don’t wish this to become an issue between us!!!!

- Unwilling Nanny

It’s already an issue so get pro-active: Set up a schedule for yourself, with time for appointments, activities, pampering, etc., and some time at home when you’re willing to baby-sit (e.g. when at least one youngster sleeps). 

Inform Hospitable Hubby that you need to work out times when he’ll stay home with the grandkids, when you’ll mind them together, and when you’ll all go visiting as a family.

Set the precedent on this visit, or you’ll go through emotional upset every time his son visits. That’ll turn your anticipation of a problem into one that’s sure to creates anger on all sides.

I recently caught my fiancé having sexual conversations with women online, and asking other women out. He said he never met any of the women, but he has low self-esteem and it’s an ego booster to hear other women say sexual things to him. 

He’s done this for years and said he can’t stop.

I’m unsure if I believe that he hasn’t met them, and I question his fidelity. He said he’ll do anything to fix this if I’ll stay with him.

I told him he has to go see someone for help but I’m not sure whether I can trust him.

- Unsure

Approach this with caring and caution at the same time. He must see a professional therapist about his need for sexually based attention, if you’re to stay with him. And you must be invited to a few sessions, in order to understand why he needs this outlet for his “ego boosts.” Otherwise, there are no agreed warning signs and boundaries for what happens in the future when his self-esteem takes a hit. 

Until now, it’s been Internet exchanges, he says; but without probing why this happens, you’d be entitled to believe that when new pressures arise, he may seek actual affairs.

Address this as a couple trying to overcome a pattern of insecurity on his part, and get past it, or you’ll continue to be an untrusting partner in a shaky relationship.

My wife keeps gives bad (gross) advice to my sons, ages 8 and 9: “You don’t have to flush the toilet if it’s only pee;” “It’s okay to pee in the front yard;” “It’s okay to fart in public.” 

Now my boys are happily peeing and farting wherever they please. How do I address this?

- Toilet Talk

Many parents believe in children having the freedom to be naked in their own house or yard, and peeing outside, until toddler age. But the conventions of our society are that youngsters, by school age at the latest - learn discretion about their personal body parts and bodily functions. This is for personal safety as well as public acceptance. 

Most children your sons’ ages are aware of this and would be embarrassed to pee and expel gas in strangers’ presence.

As for “mellow yellow” in the toilet, some jurisdictions advise this for water conservation.