DEAR ABBY: I’m 34 and recently discovered I even have began menopause. I knew it would come early for me because a lot of the women in my family began of their 30s and were done by 50. I don’t have any biological children and now probably never will. I assume I waited too long for the proper time, the proper person, etc. I used to be at all times careful to make use of contraception after I became sexually energetic and never left it as much as my partner.
I’m now having a tough time coping with this sense of loss. I do know I shouldn’t be grieving something I never had, but I find myself tearing up excited about it. I’m offended at myself for missing out on it. I even have been married to an exquisite man for nearly two years, but we have now been together for 10. I desired to be married and financially stable before having children.
I feel like I’m being punished. My poor husband takes the brunt of my frustrations and anger, which isn’t fair, and I apologize when it happens, but I find myself slowly drifting into isolation due to it. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m sad, offended, frustrated and empty. I wish I had a solution or anyone who understands to only hear me. Any advice? — GRIEVING IN OREGON
DEAR GRIEVING: Your feelings are comprehensible. It’s time to hunt counseling for help to stop blaming yourself or your husband and cope together with your feelings of sadness, anger and frustration. Once that is completed, it could be time to think about your options for fulfilling your maternal instincts. These include fostering, adoption, surrogacy and volunteer mentoring. Please consider them.
DEAR ABBY: Three years ago, I discovered I used to be being excluded by my co-workers. I even have tried to not let it trouble me, nevertheless it’s beginning to wear me down emotionally. I work in a dental office with a staff of seven women. I even have worked with two of them for nearly 20 years, and I at all times thought we had a friendship because we’d go to lunch together and sometimes do things outside of labor.
Three years ago, I learned they’ve a bunch chat with two of the opposite women and have gotten together outside of labor and didn’t include me. What bothers me most is that they laugh and talk in front of me in regards to the funny memes and videos they send one another.
I’m uninterested in being excluded, and I don’t understand why they’ve done it. All of us get along, so I’m undecided why this is going on. Any advice on what I should say or do? — APART IN ILLINOIS
DEAR APART: Folks are entitled to socialize (or not) with anyone they would really like after work. Nevertheless, to treat you the best way they’ve been seems insensitive, bordering on rude, and you could have every right to say so the subsequent time it happens. It might result in a “difficult” discussion, but you could have a right to inform them the way it affects you. Don’t rely upon your co-workers to be personal friends, which might not be possible. I encourage you to cultivate social relationships outside the office any more.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also generally known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.