A reader writes to Dear Abby expressing distress over her husband's plans to divorce her at age 72 after 25 years of marriage, accusing his daughter-in-law, Jean, of manipulation. The letter claims that Jean fostered a secret relationship between the writer’s husband and her granddaughter, Sophie, potentially influencing him to create a life insurance policy naming Sophie as beneficiary without the wife's knowledge or consent. Abby advises seeking legal counsel immediately to address these issues, suggesting the insurance policy is particularly critical.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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No political leaning scored for article 15344 · logged 2026-09-17
Until three years ago, I felt I had a wonderful relationship with his family, so it’s hard to deal with what he’s done to me and my relationships with them.
asserted
he → feel → them
A new daughter-in-law, “Jean,” who has a granddaughter, “Sophie,” has fostered a secret relationship between my husband and this child, who is now 4.
asserted
who → have → husband
I was shocked when they came over on his birthday last year and Sophie was all over him, calling him grandpa, etc.
asserted
Sophie → come → him
It was apparent what had been going on.
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what → go → ?
I felt humiliated at being excluded but said nothing, as I had been looking forward to getting to know the child.
asserted
I → feel → child
I believe Jean has her eyes on my husband’s money.
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Jean → believe → money
I suspect he used our joint checking account to buy a life insurance policy with this little girl as a beneficiary.
asserted
he → suspect → beneficiary
I believe Jean thinks my husband (and I) should foot the bill for Sophie’s college education.
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husband → believe → education
Now my husband wants a divorce.
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husband → want → divorce
We’ve had some rocky years due to his health, but this takes the cake.
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this → have → cake
My husband did not want his son to marry her in the first place, but she had a plan.
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she → want → plan
I have done nothing wrong (though he accuses me of cheating), and it is heartbreaking that his family is ghosting me.
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family → do → me
How do you fight a liar?
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you → fight → liar
Dealing with a manipulator like Jean can be a nightmare.
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Dealing → deal → Jean
If you haven’t consulted a divorce lawyer, do so now, and make sure the insurance policy is the first thing you mention.
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you → consult → lawyer
A lot of your story is Jean’s word against yours, but if such a policy was created without your knowledge, your husband could be in big trouble.
uncertain
husband → create → trouble
My oldest son, “Mitch,” from a previous marriage, passed away six months ago.
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son → pass → marriage
He had five children and two grandchildren.
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He → have → children
I got along well with them, but I wasn’t always around because I was raising my own family.
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I → get → family
Since Mitch’s death, I haven’t heard a word from any of them.
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I → hear → them
Mitch’s wife has made it known that I am not needed in their lives.
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I → make → lives
She said she needs time and space.
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she → say → time
I’m respecting that, but I’m not happy that I don’t get to see one of my great-grandsons.
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I → respect → grandsons
Should I force the issue and show up at her door one day?
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I → force → door
I don’t want to alienate them, but it’s becoming obvious that I’m out of their lives forever.
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I → want → lives
I miss my son as much as they do, but they don’t care about me.
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they → miss → me
You mentioned that you “weren’t the most attentive” grandparent over the years.
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you → mention → years
Did this include forgetting them on birthdays, Christmas, graduations and so forth?
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this → include → birthdays
If the answer lies between “maybe” and “yes,” then it shouldn’t be surprising that your grandchildren learned to do without you in their lives.
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grandchildren → lie → lives
Allow me to offer this suggestion: Rather than show up unannounced, it might be more effective to reach out to them individually.
uncertain
it → allow → them
** ** **
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren.
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Abby → write → Buren
For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips penned this column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips.
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which → pen → mother
The Aporia
