My long-distance boyfriend of four years suddenly excluded me from his wall posts and friends' list on Facebook. His explanation: he's a very private person and it was a result of a TV show he watched about privacy on Facebook.

He preferred that no one, including me, have access to this information any longer. Did he really think so little of me that I'd believe that makes any sense ... after all this time?

After that, his so-called "new friend" said that my boyfriend wasn't capable of a being in a committed, exclusive relationship.

This same friend became a friend of mine on Facebook and suggested people for me to add. One is a woman that my now-ex had hung out with several times, which I knew about. He said they were "just friends" but now, a month later, they may be dating.

He was good at not keeping his word to me and not being a man of integrity and self-control. It's obvious to me now.

He's been trying to contact me and I have nothing more to say to him. I believe when you're in a committed, exclusive relationship, there's no reason to exclude your partner from any part of your life... ever!

Wiser Now

Long-distance committed relationships require a lot of integrity and self-control. They're not for anyone at a stage of life when still restless, searching, and easily attracted to the "new."

You ARE wise to recognize the real meaning of his distancing from you... he's not the man you once thought he was. Feel fortunate to have discovered that now, not later.

I recently married my fiancé of one year. I have a great relationship with his family and was developing a close bond with his mother.

Recently, she gave me a big hug as she typically does, then put her hands on my hips, gave them a shake, and said, "It's time to exercise!" She laughed and continued to pat me on the back. I was dumbfounded and remained silent.

I'm 5'5" and weigh 132 lbs. I've gained eight pounds in the last year after I suffered injuries from a terrible car accident. I've been unable to exercise as before (three to four times weekly). I've previously never weighed over 120 but she never knew me at that weight. Yet I hardly think I'm in desperate need of exercise.

My attitude toward her has completely changed and I find it difficult to conceal my feelings. She's already asked my husband about it. I avoid her calls and have no desire to spend time with her without feeling self-conscious like I'm being judged and I don't wish to tell my husband, because it's embarrassing for me.

He continuously says how 'sexy' my body is and how much he loves my body, and I'm relatively happy with my body, so I shouldn't care what she thinks, but I do.

Am I Overreacting?

You're reacting too long, and too internally. The mother-in-law, whom you liked and who's going to be in your life for many years, offended you. So say so. Tell her you're sensitive about your weight - as many women are - and don't want her to comment on it again. Tell her you don't want it to affect your friendship, so she needs to understand this is a sensitive topic for you. (It is, and that's natural).

Unless she persists in making unwelcome comments, this one slip in a developing bond is not worth cutting off ties with your husband's mother.

I'm 27, living with a man for five years, supposedly for the long haul. Recently, I've started to reconsider this. Though he's kind and would make an excellent father, I find him somewhat obtuse. It's starting to really bother me. Recently I met a very handsome, kind, and highly intelligent man. I'd like our friendship to become a romance. Yet I feel guilty and ungrateful leaving my long-term partner who'll be devastated.

Torn

Let's cut to the chase.... you want someone else. You've already lost love and regard for your current partner. Move out. You do him no favour by staying out of guilt, making it likely you'll soon be cheating on him, which will devastate him more.

So have the courage and decency to be honest. Forget the "obtuse" reason. Say that though you loved him in the past, you no longer love him and need to go your own way.