Dear Abby: They say my new boyfriend would be such a good dad, but I’m almost 50

DEAR ABBY I was with the same person my first everything guy for years Related Articles Dear Abby My husband s negativity is dragging me down with him Dear Abby Because of what was noted in the group text my sister ditched half our family Dear Abby I picked my baby s name and now I m described a hypothetical child has dibs Dear Abby I slapped my boyfriend s grandfather so hard he fell off his chair Dear Abby I revealed I d be in their wedding but I m so upset by the processional plan A scant years after the shock of a divorce I met someone years my junior He makes me feel I m the the greater part beautiful woman in the world complimenting on what my ex considered my faults showing I am still a sexy desirable woman and making me feel like I matter in this world The complication is despite him saying he could live without having kids I m almost I fear it may be something he ll regret or resent me for down the road if we stay together His friends keep trying to fix him up with younger women because he d be a good dad and it breaks my heart to think this might be what tears us apart when we haven t yet put a label on what we are together I don t want to hold him back from a life he may have pictured yet it terrifies me that I d have to see him with someone else He stays friends with his exes so I can imagine him expecting me to still be part of his life even if not romantically I m not sure my heart could handle that Advice WISTFUL IN WASHINGTON DEAR WISTFUL You are overdue for a conversation with this man in which you tell him you need to know how key having children is to him Explain that his friends trying to fix him up with younger women because he d make a great dad is unnerving and you do not want to stand in his way if he wants to be one While you are at it tell him that standing aside and watching him build a life with someone else would be heartbreaking for you and he shouldn t expect that it will happen It is the truth He demands to hear it and you need his answer DEAR ABBY My mother-in-law is a very generous lady When she visits twice a year she pays for nearly everything as far as food and necessities for our family She s a foodie which means when she s here we eat at any restaurant she hasn t tried She ll order nearly every appetizer on the menu and encourage each of us to order something different so we can all sample a variety of entrees The dessert menu is no exception I have dietary issues and have only just now figured out which foods don t make me uncomfortable I can no longer tolerate dairy fatty foods etc The menu items at majority restaurants contain those things When I politely refuse certain appetizers or sides with my entrees she becomes upset I understand as she does pay for everything Related Articles Asking Eric The wedding tiara dispute blew up into a war with the bride Harriette Cole My neighbor is leaving me unsettling notes Miss Manners My online photo ban draws a confounded response Dear Abby My husband s negativity is dragging me down with him Asking Eric I feel like I should overview my neighbor before he hurts someone How can I get around not compromising my healthcare with her generosity PERPLEXED IN COLORADO DEAR PERPLEXED The conversation you must have with your mother-in-law should take place privately and not while you are at a restaurant ordering food You may need to have it more than once and in advance of her visit If necessary explain in detail how severe your digestive issues are Then when you and the family dine out tell the server who is taking your order exactly what you need Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren also known as Jeanne Phillips and was founded by her mother Pauline Phillips Contact Dear Abby at www DearAbby com or P O Box Los Angeles CA