Dear Annie, are my ex-husband and his new wife happy?

Dear Annie: I married a man who was an only child, and throughout our marriage, his parents never let go of him. They wanted to be involved in every aspect of our lives and visited us at home daily. At first, I managed to set some boundaries, but after we had a child, their interference became unbearable. They would come to our house at 7 a.m. and stay until dinner. Although they were helpful, it felt like their presence and opinions dominated our lives. Eventually, every decision we made had to meet with their approval.

The situation reached its peak when I found out they were planning to put a trailer on our property to live there permanently. That's when I finally pulled the plug and said, “I'm leaving.” Overnight, my decent daughter-in-law became “the worst ever.” It took me a year to finalize the divorce, and my ex-husband and his parents fought me every step of the way. I kept thinking, “If I'm so awful, why are they fighting to keep me in their lives?”

Within a year of our divorce, my ex-husband remarried. Honestly, I could have hugged his new wife; I was so relieved to be out of that situation. From then on, I made my own decisions and have no regrets. I am happy with the life I have built.

Since the divorce, my ex-husband and his new wife have moved more than eight times. I wonder: Are they really happy? — Relieved

Dear Reliefed: It sounds like you and your ex-husband were fundamentally unsuitable for each other, so I'm glad you both found a way to separate and are now living a life that hopefully suits you better. What's interesting about your letter, however, is that you seem to be quite critical of other people's lifestyles.

I understand that your in-laws' behavior has overwhelmed you, but there are others who would welcome such involvement and dedication from grandparents.

While frequent moves may seem unsettling to you, some people enjoy the excitement of exploring new places and embracing change. Everyone defines happiness differently, and it's important to let others live their lives in the way that's best for them.

The best advice I can give is to focus on what brings You Joy and fulfillment. When you accept others as they are, it becomes easier to accept yourself.