Dear Abby: Missing money has me worried about the man my daughter may marry
A parent suspects their daughter’s long-term boyfriend stole $300 from a bathroom hiding place. They worry that confronting the issue could damage their relationship with their daughter, who may defend him.
Liam Carter 
A concerned parent is sounding the alarm over a potential son-in-law after a troubling incident involving missing cash. Writing to 205focus.com, the reader explains that their daughter, who is in her early 30s, is currently in a long-term relationship with a man nine years her junior. While the couple is discussing marriage, the parent senses that something is deeply wrong.
A Disappearing Act
The tension stems from a missing $300 that had been tucked away in the parent's bathroom. The reader admits that storing money in such a place was a lapse in judgment, but they remain convinced that the boyfriend is responsible for the theft. Despite the certainty that the funds were taken, the parent has remained silent, fearing that confronting the situation will only lead the daughter to defend her partner and potentially fracture their own mother-child bond.
Abby’s Guidance
Abigail Van Buren suggests that silence is no longer the best strategy. The advice is to approach the daughter immediately, but with caution. Rather than launching a full-blown confrontation, the parent is encouraged to present the facts objectively: note that the money was kept in the bathroom, that it is now gone, and that the couple were the only visitors in the home. By clarifying that they are not leveling a direct accusation, the parent can inform their daughter of the situation without necessarily triggering a defensive blowup.
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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. You can contact the column at www.DearAbby.com or write to P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
