Annie?s Mailbox – Roommate wants to make all rules

Dear Annie: I’m 19 and attending college. I room with five other girls, and the father of one of them, “Debbie,” owns the house we live in.

The problem? Debbie believes that since it is her father’s house, she gets to make all the rules. We all agree on no drinking, smoking or doing drugs, but she likes to make up others. For example, she just broke up with her boyfriend and gets jealous when she sees me with mine, so she created a “no dates in the house” rule. When another roommate forgot to come home in time for Debbie’s birthday party, Debbie made up a 9:00 curfew. She now has a dress code, tells us what we can and can’t eat in the house, and she’s really starting to tick us off.

Dear Annoyed: Debbie is a bully. Rules between roommates must be agreed upon by the majority. Have a meeting of all roommates, preferably with Dad there, and present a written list of acceptable house rules. Say that new rules will be voted on. Any time Debbie turns off the heat, water or power, be sure to send a written complaint to the “landlord.” If Dad gets repeated notices of tenant abuses, he will tell Debbie to knock it off. Otherwise, start saving your money so you can move. No break on rent is worth the roommate from hell.

Dear Annie: My daughter has been married to “Ethan” for a few years. Despite being in his 30s, Ethan’s mother calls him “her baby boy,” and whenever possible, likes to grab his behind and give it a good squeeze.

This woman will call their home and ask about Ethan and the kids, but not my daughter. Ethan neither condones nor condemns this behavior. He does nothing. It’s making my daughter upset, to say the least.

Everyone has noticed that his mother acts a little possessive toward Ethan, but not with her other son.

My husband and I love our son-in-law, but we don’t know what to do. — Not So Touchy-Feely

Dear Touchy-Feely: You do nothing. This is your daughter’s problem, not yours, and it’s best if you don’t get involved other than to offer a shoulder to lean on. So Ethan’s mother favors him and pinches his behind. Not great, but it need not be a major deal, either. Your daughter should discuss this with Ethan. If the relationship between your daughter and her mother-in-law is more rivalry than friendship, it will apparently be up to your daughter to reassure Mom and warm things up. We hope she will try.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to [email protected], or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.