Dear Annie: Recently, I let my ex-husband's mother, "Gladys," watch my daughter for the weekend. She hasn't been allowed to do this for quite some time due to problems we had with her and her other grandchildren.
While here, Gladys grilled my daughter with questions about me, my current husband and other family members. She has a history of backstabbing me. She is very sneaky. While in my home, she and her oldest son hacked into my e-mail account, read all of my mail and changed my password. Luckily, I had my laptop with me and was able to catch it before they did too much damage.
Gladys got into my account by calling my mother and innocently asking for her maiden name, which was the "question" my account asked to help me remember my password. Please let your readers know not to use something so simple to discover. I feel I can never trust Gladys again. Is there some law I can mention to scare her so she won't do this again? — Maine
Dear Maine: Discovering your password and opening your e-mail is the equivalent of eavesdropping on your phone calls. It's not nice, but no one is going to arrest her. If Gladys had done real damage — taken money from your bank account, for example, then she would be breaking the law. First, change your password and make the "clue" more cryptic, so only you will understand it. In fact, you should update your password frequently. Then tell Gladys that she is no longer allowed in your home when you are not present. Period. That bridge is burned.
Dear Annie: I am a 40-something female who has been married for over 20 years. When we first married, my husband cared about his appearance, but he has since let himself go, and now sports a potbelly and has very little interest in what he wears or in trying to lose weight.
He doesn't like to discuss it and gets all huffy when I try. What should I do? — Helpless Wife
Dear Helpless: You cannot force someone to eat better, but you can prepare healthful meals. You cannot force him to exercise, but you can ask him to walk with you after dinner. We assume your husband has other, more endearing, qualities. He expects you to love him regardless, and we hope you will.
Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. © Creators Syndicate Inc.