Dear Abby is advising a reader to end her relationship with her fiancé after he was unfaithful and her own infidelity followed. The reader, identified as "Frustrated in the South," described a five-year relationship where her fiancé's behavior deteriorated after she discovered he had been cheating shortly after they moved in together.
According to the advice column, the fiancé no longer takes the reader out, shows her affection, or discusses anything beyond household bills. The couple also no longer engages in intimacy. The reader questioned whether his behavior was a result of being caught cheating or if he might be unfaithful again. However, she admitted that her own actions have mirrored his, stating, "I've started to cheat, too. I don't care anymore."
In response, Dear Abby, written by Jeanne Phillips, stated that the fiancé's lack of love for the reader is the likely reason for his behavior, not just the initial infidelity. Phillips emphasized that the reader's own unfaithfulness makes her fiancé's actions irrelevant in the context of their relationship's future. The advice column urged the reader to end the relationship, heal from the experience, and consider seeking counseling to move forward.
The column also addressed a separate query from a "Concerned New Mother" whose sister and her husband are reportedly downplaying their children's illnesses when visiting, posing a risk to the new baby. Dear Abby advised the new mother to implement strict measures, such as designating a "baby room" where individuals with symptoms are not allowed and ensuring hand hygiene. The advice stressed that protecting the infant is paramount, even if it leads to accusations of being overbearing.