DEAR ABBY: Eight years ago, my oldest son, a police officer, quit talking to us. We had no fights, no arguments — he just stopped answering our calls, and I not was allowed to see my grandchildren. Because the yr progressed, he also alienated his sister and brothers. For the following three years, I continued attempting to contact him or my daughter-in-law, who I also thought I used to be near, but they wouldn’t return my calls. Then they moved, and I had no latest address for them.
Now, years later, my youngest son (also a police officer) has done the identical thing! One minute, he was on the phone laughing and talking with us — then he called back, yelling about sticking up for his ex-wife (who we don’t consult with and never disparaged) and hung up! I called him back and told him how disrespectful it was, and that we’ve got had no contact together with her. He, too, won’t return our calls.
My oldest has been on steroids, and I think my youngest could also be taking them now. I even have gotten over the lack of the oldest, because it has been eight years, but my baby is breaking my heart. Do I keep calling? He doesn’t live here on the town, but I could go to his home and check out to reason with him.
My two other children are also stunned and hurt about how their brothers treat us. We’ve got at all times been good parents. We had a loving family, full of God and fun. I’m sure it’s the steroids, but I still don’t know the way far to push it. It’s like a switch just flipped in our lives. — COMPLETELY THROWN IN NEVADA
DEAR COMPLETELY THROWN: You and your husband have my sympathy. In case your daughter and middle son are in contact with their youngest brother, they might ask what has caused this estrangement, and intervene. Nonetheless, there are not any guarantees it can work.
I’ll indicate that while some steroids are legal, others should be prescribed by a physician because they might be dangerous.
Anabolic steroids — a prescription drug sometimes misused by bodybuilders to advertise skeletal muscle constructing and improve athletic performance — may cause unintended effects, including “‘roid rage,” a state by which the user becomes extremely volatile and aggressive.
When you are correct about your two sons in law enforcement, it is actually regrettable and will possibly cost them their careers.
DEAR ABBY: I even have an in depth friend who is sort of a brother to me. He has no family, and we’re his only friends who don’t live across the country.
During holidays, my friend is at all times alone. My family doesn’t welcome him to holiday dinners, so I’m at all times torn. I need him to rejoice with us and don’t want to go away him sitting alone at my house awaiting our return.
Would I be improper to spend the vacations with him as an alternative of with my family, which has numerous people? — TORN HEART IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR TORN HEART: I wish you had mentioned why your loved ones is unwilling to incorporate your friend in a few of those celebrations. Whatever their reason, because leaving your friend alone dampens your enjoyment, consider alternating the vacations as an alternative of skipping all of the ones your loved ones hosts.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also often 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.