Girlfriend is jealous of my sons

Dear Pastor,

I am a 40-year-old man and I have two children. I am not involved with their mother anymore, but I have a new girlfriend and we are living together.

I am not always at the house because my job keeps me away. But the boys are there and we have a day worker, so my lady friend does not have to wash for them. The boys have a television in their room. I make sure I put one in there so that they can watch sports and whatever else they like to see. My lady friend is always complaining that the boys are too noisy. She does not have children.

Whenever I am at home and the boys are there, I go into the room with them and enjoy what they are looking at. But my lady friend says that whenever I am home, I ignore her. But these children do not live with me; they are living with their mother. So I try to spend quality time with them when they are with us. Sometimes I take them out and my lady friend wants to come with us, but I refuse to take her because I believe that as a father, I should have time with my boys alone.

One day, this crazy woman questioned the boys about where I took them and whether I picked up a woman. They found that funny and they told me about it. I was very angry because since I took her into my house and have been living with her, I have not disrespected her in that way. If I wanted to go out with another woman, I would not do so while the boys are staying at our house.

This woman has declared that she was only joking with the boys when she asked them if I picked up a woman. I do not have time for another woman. I am working hard to give my two sons an education. Their mother is seeing another man, and that is her business. She wanted my boys to call this man daddy. They objected to it and told her that they only have one daddy and that is me. My lady friend is very jealous of the type of relationship that the boys have with me. What do you think of this relationship?

M.B.

Dear M.B.,

Your lady friend, as you called her, is jealous. She probably believes that you do not spend enough time with her. But I commend you for spending quality time with your sons.

They will always remember that you were not too busy for them. When they are not with you, you and your lady friend can spend lots of time together. She shouldn't have questioned your sons, but please do not hold that against her. Her jealousy got the better of her. She probably believes that you were using your sons as a pass to meet with another woman. But forgive her for her stupidity. Everybody makes mistakes, and that was a big mistake on her part. Take good care of your sons, and your lady friend.

Pastor