Dear Annie: My husband has twin 28-year-old daughters. They are hardworking and smart, and any parent would be proud of their achievements.

I began dating my husband five years after his divorce, and we married three years later. However, when I was supposed to meet his daughters, they told him they would chase me away if I visited. The relationship went downhill from there. They threw my possessions into the backyard while we were not home, threatened to kill me, vandalized our house, tried to run me over, ambushed me with a bucket of water when I stepped out the door, were cruel to my dog and more. We moved 2,000 miles away.

Now that our parents are getting old, we are thinking of moving back to our hometown to be near our families. But I don’t know how to handle his daughters. They text, phone and email their dad, but never acknowledge my existence. We send birthday and Christmas presents from both of us. Their mother and I get along well, but she only chastises them by saying they are “exhibiting inappropriate behavior.” They still live with her, and I think she is intimidated.

My husband owns a farm nearby and we have been trying to sell it, but the daughters use that property and chase all prospective buyers away. We have offered to sell it to them at a good price, but why should they buy it when they can use it for free? We can’t afford two house payments.

My husband has no leverage with them. He won’t do anything that could get them into legal trouble that may affect the rest of their lives. I don’t know what to do.

— Anguished in Oregon

Dear Oregon: These spoiled brats have been out of control for years because they have two ineffectual, spineless parents, and there never have been any consequences for their behavior. Your husband can sell the farm by having a broker handle prospective buyers by appointment only. But make it clear to your husband that if they vandalize your home, threaten you or hurt your pets, you will call the police. And he should convey that message to his errant daughters.

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Dear Annie: My sister “Rose” and I are as different as night and day. She also is 17 years older than I am.

I am now in my late 40s, and although Rose and I get along, there is one thing that causes me grief. Every time we speak, she feels the need to remind me of what a spoiled brat I was when I was a teenager. She’s right. But I’m not that way any longer. She makes it clear that she still is not OK with this, so I’ve apologized for my teenaged self. Repeatedly. It hurts to know that she can’t let it go.

I truly love my sister. My question is, should I confront Rose? If not, how do I deal with the continued belittling?

— Little Sister in California

Dear Sister: It might help to talk to Rose. Remind her that you are no longer a spoiled brat, and ask why she is having such a hard time forgiving your teenaged self. Perhaps there is a reason she keeps bringing it up. If she cannot recognize her obsessive behavior or stop it, the best you can do is say, “Yes, Rose,” and then change the subject.

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Dear Annie: Here’s my two cents about dogs’ names. While visiting my daughter, her 4-year-old neighbor asked me, “What is your name?” When I replied, “Lucy,” he said, “My friend has a dog named Lucy.”

Unless you make up an original name for your pet, someone will have the same name. I discovered that Lucy is among the top names for dogs. I still laugh about it. Lighten up, people.

— Lucy in Shreveport, La.

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Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Email your questions to [email protected], or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

— Creators Syndicate Inc.

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