I'm sure most of you have heard of this. It's where you write to "Dear. Abby" about a problem and then she answers back so no one knows it was you writing. Well I just read one that really touched me so I thought I would share it.

"Dear Abby: I am a 54-year-old divorced father of a daughter. I look good for my age, earn a good income as a consultant, own a condo and have a sizable retirement fund.

I have a strong desire to remarry, but I have some "baggage." My daughter, "Danielle," is bipolar. She has done nothing since graduating from high school last year but get into trouble. Danielle has been arrested for drugs and stealing, and hangs out with a rough crowd. My ex-wife does not have the inner strength to throw her out, which probably would be the best thing for her. Women I date lose interest in me when they learn about my daughter.

I hate to lie, but I may have to start when we trade information about our children. Theirs are often accomplished, so the contrast is terrible. Should I make up half-truths until the time is right to tell the whole story?
- Embarrassed in Virginia

Dear Embarrassed: Your daughter suffers from a mental illness. She belongs in treatment, not on the streets. That your ex-wife hasn't thrown her out isn't a reflection of weakness, but a measure of her strength of character.

You and your ex could benefit from joining a support group. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (800-826-3632 or www.dbs alliance.org) was founded in 1986, has grown to more than 1,000 support groups nationwide, and offers advice and online information for persons with depressive and manic-depressive illness and their families.

Under no circumstances should you concoct "half- truths" in an attempt to cover up your situation. A woman who would write you off because you have a sick child doesn't sound like much of a catch. And any woman with a head on her shoulders would resent having been misled."

 

Isn't that a great answer? You shouldn't have to hide who you or your family is for someone to like you. If he can't find someone who likes him for who his daughter is then why would you want to date them in the first place???

Exactly.... that's the kind of answer that guy needed to hear lol.  My mom's boyfriend has a daughter who is most likely bipolar, or something similar.  She gets into a ton of trouble, she gets drunk, smokes weed, hangs out with the weirdest people... my mom has no relationship with her whatsoever.  She has nothing endearing about her, she's very boyish and can be so hard headed.  Her dad wanted to buy her a car, but because of how she acts, he decided there's no way that she could handle a car, and she's already sixteen.  But she lives with her crazy mom so there's really not much contact, except when she decided to cause problems.  He has two other boys, that ususally don't cause problems, but they are not the greatest kids either.  So my mom chooses to stay out of all the family drama and will often distance herself if things get out of hand for him.  But they've been together for over three years and are planning to marry, so things can work out if you know how to work around such problems.

My little sis has this and I would be so sad and mad at my mom if she like wrote her own daughter off. It's hard for my sister to keep friends it seems like, but yeah I don't think you should have to lie or hide who you are to impress someone else.

I think we should give the dad a little credit. He had an issue and he didn't know exactly how to handle it. Let's just hope he actually listens to the advice that was given to him.

I agree that he shouldn't have to hide who he is infront of these women but I dont think he should tell them on the first date. He should get to know them better, and trust them and then trust them with something like this. By that time the woman would have already gotten to know him and if she cant put up with that then she doesn't really like him. You have to deal with alot in marriage and something like this is just a crack in the road.