Dear LFTP: the never-finalized divorce
- The man I've been with for six years won't finalize his divorce; what should I do?
A woman has been with a man for six years; he's been separated from his wife for twenty years, said no to finalizing the divorce ('that's expensive'), and answered her request for commitment with 'I moved in five years ago, didn't I?' — she gave him until her fiftieth birthday for a yes or no. The hosts say leave him: don't expect a man to treat you better than he treated the last woman, real commitment gets spoken in front of witnesses at weddings, and he's 'fighting for what's bad,' controlling both women because he's a selfish turd — 'if he was gonna do it, he'd have done it already.' The Secular answer adds that the arrangement is serving both him and the ex-wife somehow and says the status quo won't change; the hosts agree with all of it.
More on Marriage
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Dear LFTP: the spontaneous husband and the 7 p.m. date
- My spontaneous husband starts a project at 5 p.m., fails to cancel our 7 p.m. date, and shows up late in work clothes. Please advise.
Mike reads the second letter: a planner wife of two years whose spontaneous husband started a household project at 5 p.m., agreed to cancel their 7 p.m. date, never told the other couple, then showed up 45 minutes late in work clothes.
From No. 601 · Humble Faithful Idiot
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Dear LFTP: the basement musician whose wife never asks him to play
- Am I asking too much to expect my wife to ask me to play, or should I just let it go and stop writing songs?
Mike reads a letter from a married-31-years basement musician and songwriter whose non-musical wife has never once asked him to play — he wonders if he's asking too much or should stop writing.
From No. 597 · Maybe A Word From God
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Dear LFTP: the reluctant grandmother
- Am I wrong to prefer not to drive an hour and a half to visit my husband's grandbabies?
Mike reads a Dear LFTP letter from a 56-year-old married twelve years who doesn't want to drive an hour and a half to visit her husband's grandbabies — she's 'not into babies or children' — and can't understand why he won't stop asking.
From No. 596 · Mr. Prayer Closet
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Dear LFTP: the incarcerated husband
- My husband is serving a life sentence and I have met someone new — what should I do?
- How would you counsel the incarcerated husband who wants to divorce his wife to free her from the marriage?
Mike reads a heavier letter: the writer's husband is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole, having turned himself in a year and a half ago for a crime from…
From No. 596 · Mr. Prayer Closet