A close relative and his wife, who are childless, had taken in a troubled teenage neighbour last year. At a family dinner, the girl sat on my relative’s knee and they held their hands together at his crotch.      
      He’s done "creepy" things in the past - hugging me and whispering to me about my breasts; hugging my daughter and jumping up and down with her. Another relative saw him lying on the couch and inviting the teenager to lie on top of him.       
      There’s an imminent wedding in the family, and my adult daughter doesn’t want this man and his “girl friend” there. My husband and other immediate relatives of this man haven’t shown any empathy or understanding to the victims in this situation.   
      They’ve defended the creep, even though he’s an educated man in his 60s and knows what he’s doing. I don’t want to be in the same room with him again. It’s caused a rift.      
      My husband and some others think we should "forgive" the guy; they insist he wouldn't molest anyone.
      - How To Resolve the Rift?

He’s already molested you, your daughter, this teenager, and likely many more women who are too misguidedly polite or intimidated by family ties, to speak up to this man’s face.    
      Your husband should be ashamed of his support for someone who’s disrespected his wife and daughter. He’s protecting a man who may do serious emotional damage to someone ... e.g. the “troubled teenager” is in the line of fire for a traumatic, destructive experience, having moved into his home.    
      Tell Hubby he’s in the wrong, period. Warn him that if an incident ever occurs where police are involved, the law frowns on those like him who knew of the risks and did nothing. You’ll be in the same boat, if you continue to be silent.    
      The family rift is finally a blaring alarm that someone – Hubby is the perfect choice! - must tell this man to keep away from young girls, and his hands off other women.

One friend seems kind and friendly, yet she always tells something that embarrasses me. She’ll ask me in front of others,  "Why does your husband make so little money?”
      In our family, I make more money and am happy with my work. She doesn’t work, only her husband does. Also,my work includes a lot of travelling and she’ll ask, “Are you going to travel all your life? You should look for a good job."    
      I don't like to hear this, but she’s also a friend of another friend who’s very important to me. I don't want to end our relationship.
      - What To Do?

This person is neither kind nor friendly; in fact, she may be envious of your independence, but hasn’t the goodwill or generosity to let others live as they choose, when she perhaps can’t.    
      If you trust your other friend not to turn this into three-way gossip, ask if she also receives putdowns of the same nature. You might be surprised to learn you’re not the only target of this woman’s unsubtle criticism.    
      Or, if you still don’t want to rock the boat, try to laugh off your “friend’s” comments. Example: “Together, my husband and I make plenty of money and like it that way.” And, “I love the travel, I find it so much more interesting than being at home all the time.”   
      It’s time this woman learned there are many more freedoms in our society than just speaking her mind whenever she pleases.

I’ve found myself recently having sexual contact with many males. My friends say I’m turning into someone who sleeps around. I crave contact with the opposite sex but I still feel disappointed in myself the next day. What am I supposed to do?
      - Uncertain

Your self-image must be under a rug … it’s nowhere to be seen. You “find” yourself promiscuous, as if without your will; it takes others to label your sexual indiscretions.     
      Wake up, girl. YOU are the perpetrator of your own risky actions. If you get a sexual disease, lose friends, and can’t hold a man’s respect, there’s no one else pulling the strings but you.    
      Get serious about finding out what tanked your self-worth. Get counselling. Maybe parents, siblings, teachers or some jerk guy devalued you in your past, but it’s up to you to direct your future, by taking control of your own life.