DEAR ABBY: About two years ago, my neighbor kept inviting my then-18-year-old son over to help her do odd jobs while her husband was at work. He seemed happy to help out, and she always gave him some money for the jobs. A few months later, she and her husband announced they were expecting. I work with this man’s ex-wife, and she confided to me once that she never had children because he couldn’t give her any. To me, this could mean that the husband knows he’s not the father, or maybe that they used my son as an unintentional sperm donor. The little boy looks a lot like my son did at that age. Should I confront him about the affair and possible parenthood? He may be unaware that he fathered the child. — SUSPICIOUS IN ILLINOIS
DEAR ABBY: The letter about the man who parades around naked in front of his daughters after his shower prompts my letter. His stated reason is he claims he’s hot and needs to air-dry his hemorrhoids. Well, my advice for him is to wrap a towel around his waist, go straight to his bedroom, shut the door and do his “airing” there. Then if he wants, he can stand on his head and air-dry them as long as he darn well pleases. When he’s done, he can get dressed and join the family. And if this doesn’t please him, send him to a shrink. — SIMPLE SOLUTION, TWIN FALLS, IDAHO
DEAR ABBY: My father also did that, and I turned out just fine. I’m female, 37, happily married with no emotional scars. Unless the wife has reason to think he’s a predator, she should relax. Americans — and I am one — are far too hung up on nudity. — BETTINA IN CROSSVILLE, TENN.
DEAR ABBY: Only people with dirty minds equate nudity (especially that of a family member) with sex. Those girls are probably so used to it by now they think nothing of it. I suspect this is a power struggle between the husband and wife, and it’s none of the mother-in-law’s business. — DISGUSTED IN CANADA
DEAR ABBY: The father’s actions are criminal. He’s sexually abusing the eyes and emotions of those unwilling witnesses. The wife and mother-in-law should document the times and dates of these assaults. With that documentation they can force Dad into therapy long enough to root out the evil beginnings of this perverse behavior. — PSYCHOTHERAPIST FROM NEW JERSEY
DEAR ABBY: I am European. For us, it is completely normal to see our parents naked. There is nothing abnormal or wrong about it. — YASMINE (U.S. AIR FORCE)
DEAR ABBY: I had a similar problem with my husband and son. Every night they’d come to the dinner table and eat their meal shirtless. Finally, I decided I’d had enough — so I calmly took off my shirt and proceeded to eat my meal. (They got the message!) — DAWNELLE IN ALTUS, OKLA.
