July 4, 2026 Issue, Page 5 of 10

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ACTIVITIES The Elk City News SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2026 • 5 Man’s Excuses and Absences Continue to Expand DEAR ABBY: I have been mar- continue to live like this, and I need DEAR ABBY: I have a friend may, however, have to refrain from ried to my husband for 10 years. DEAR ABBY to help our children live their best whom I love and enjoy being with. telling her about any travel you Ever since I have known him, he lives. Please help. — LIKE A SIN- However, when we spend extended do with other, more compatible has had issues with depression and the rest, but he doesn’t rest. He does GLE PARENT IN NEW MEXICO periods of time together, such as a friends. anxiety. I have tried to support him other things. When I say he needs DEAR SINGLE PARENT: I am few days on a trip, it doesn’t work through these diagnoses. to go to work like everybody else, he sure that, as a therapist, you realize well because of our personalities He has attempted to go to ther- gets mad. His employer is now on you can’t help someone who refus- and belief systems. She is not aware DEAR READERS: Happy 250th apy several times, but he never his case for excessive absences. He es to be helped. It is time to put the of the struggles I have when spend- birthday to the USA! Let’s all enjoy sticks with it. Once the therapist refuses to take responsibility and welfare of your children first. Give ing more than a few hours with her a safe and happy Fourth of July! gets to the point where they start to says his employer is “targeting him.” your husband an ultimatum: Get and regularly invites me to go on P.S. Wishing a Happy Heavenly get into what he needs to work on, Nothing is ever his fault. There is al- help for his issues and stick with it, trips with her. I have put her off a Birthday to you, Mom! — LOVE, he quits. He claims no one under- ways an excuse. or you are leaving and taking the few times without telling her the ABBY stands what he is going through. This has greatly affected our mar- children with you. The atmosphere truth. Is there a polite way to tell her This has impacted every aspect of riage and his relationships with our you have described is unhealthy for that I’d rather not go on a trip with Dear Abby is written by Abigail his life — sleep, eating habits and two children, who really want their them and for you as well. her? — BRIEFLY IN DELAWARE Van Buren, also known as Jeanne his controlling attitude toward me. dad around, but he is not. I am a P.S. As I’m sure you are aware, DEAR BRIEFLY: Tell your friend He also works out excessively (like counselor. I see narcissistic tenden- some counselors have therapists. that you love her and enjoy being Phillips, and was founded by her five hours a day). cies in his behavior. I love him very Please consider enlisting some with her, but that if it involves leav- mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact It has also affected his ability to much, and he has not always been emotional support for yourself as ing home for any length of time it Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com enjoy life and his job. He takes a lot like this. I don’t want to quit on him, you make your way through this. makes you “anxious.” You do not or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA of time off work, claiming he needs but I don’t know what to do. I can’t have to explain any further. You 90069. CROSSWORD Get Fuzzy CURRENT PUZZLE ANSWERS Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield