 (Nick Galifianakis for The Post) | Dear Carolyn: I've always been close with my father and have a great relationship with my stepmother, whom he married in 2019. My stepmother also has a daughter a few years younger than me (I'm 30) whom she had when she was 19. My stepmother has mentioned feeling she missed out on her early-adulthood years because she was a mother, and with her daughter grown she can finally live life on her own terms. Since marrying my stepmother, it seems like my father is never available or doesn't really make an effort with me anymore. We live about an hour apart and it always seems to be me suggesting plans, and when I do, they suggest I drive to their house. I recently got engaged and on the day of my engagement, they were MIA for hours when my fiance and I tried to call them to tell them our good news — and my father knew my fiance was proposing that day. As we start to plan our wedding, my father and stepmother seem to be pretty disinterested and again, aren't making an effort. Should I tell my father how I feel? I realize I am an adult with my own life and so is he, but I feel hurt that it seems like ever since he married my stepmother, I don't seem to be as much of a priority. When I text or call him, it takes him hours or sometimes even days to get back to me, and I'm getting really frustrated. Should I just hold my tongue? — Daddy's Little Girl? |
