Son’s girlfriend controlling my children

Dear Annie: I’ve been very happily married for several years to a man I love deeply. Suddenly, his son from a previous marriage, who lives in another state, wants Dad to move to his state to be close to him, as he and his wife are planning a family. His son and I have never been close.

My husband works for himself and has a major client — a very attractive woman, mind you, whom he talks to online several times a week — in his son’s city. After doing some “homework,” I discovered the state we would be moving to is not a community property state ... which our current state is. My husband has all the money in this marriage, as I left my career behind to tend to his business, home and family, and his son gets everything that I won’t in the event of a death or divorce.

Being currently married, do I have any recourse, such as a post-marriage “prenup,” to make sure I’m OK financially if we move and my stepson and this businesswoman break us up?

— Worried in Wyoming Dear Worried: You say you are “very happily married” to a man you “love deeply.” Why would a female client or a son who wants his children to know their grandfather change that?

Based on your letter, it seems like your husband has honored the commitment he made to you on your wedding day. By assuming the worst, you may be causing yourself undue anxiety. The first thing you should do is communicate with your husband about where these fears are coming from — perhaps they are being triggered by anxiety about the move itself and the life changes that surround it.

If you are genuinely concerned about your assets in the event of a divorce, consult an attorney. I would not assume that “his son gets everything”; in fact, such an outcome is unlikely.

Dear Annie: My girlfriend and I met about two years ago. She has two younger kids, ages three and six. I have older kids, 15 and 16. She’s a “helicopter parent” who wants to micromanage everything her kids do. Well, when it comes to my kids, she wants to scrutinize everything they do, too. She says she doesn’t agree with my parenting and basically calls me a crappy parent when I don’t do things her way. She also thinks that it is a requirement for my kids to speak to her, even if they are busy or having a bad day. She will text my kids and say mean things to them and even drag their mom into it.

My kids don’t do drugs. They don’t lie. They are heavily involved in sports, on the honor roll and don’t get in trouble. But my girlfriend has caused so many issues that my kids don’t even want her around. I’m also a retired Army veteran with severe PTSD, and I rage when I’m mad. She wants to argue about who ate the last rice cake or took the last drink. It’s one argument after another. What do I do? — Confused From Indiana

Dear Confused: It’s time for you to set some boundaries with your girlfriend. Micromanaging is one thing; insulting your kids via text, offending their mother and starting arguments over rice cakes are quite another.

Assuming your relationship with her progresses, you will be one big family someday — all six of you. If you can’t squash her argumentative and overbearing tendencies now — toward both you and your children — they will only get worse.

Talk to your girlfriend about what is appropriate and what isn’t. Having a mediator or a couples counselor present will prevent your confrontation from escalating to a(nother) fullblown argument.