Right to be hopping mad over Easter inequality

Advertisement

Advertise with us

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I was a heartbeat away from telling my ex-mother-in-law she could never see my young son again. My child came home on Easter morning from the sleepover at his grandma’s, sad and saying very little.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2024 (863 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I was a heartbeat away from telling my ex-mother-in-law she could never see my young son again. My child came home on Easter morning from the sleepover at his grandma’s, sad and saying very little.

It turns out his cousins got stuffed animals and lots of treats, and my son was given one pathetic little egg and basically ignored all day.

This is not the first time he’s been treated like the outcast by his grandmother. When my boy was small, he didn’t notice so much that his cousins were always receiving more and better gifts from grandma at her parties, but now that me and his dad have split and he’s turning eight, it’s gotten worse — and in a big way again this weekend. I couldn’t hold back, and immediately got on the phone to give grandma an earful.

My ex-husband phoned me 10 minutes later and started yelling at me. He told me I stirred the pot and things are going to get ugly.

“That spoiled kid should just be grateful he’s still getting anything from my side of the family,” he said.

I brought up the fact we broke up because he cheated on me before he grunted and hung up. I’ve had it with him and his mean mother. I sadly feel I’ve let it go on too long without confronting her about the way she treats her youngest grandson. Did I do anything wrong by calling her out?

— Hurting For My Boy, North Kildonan

Dear Hurting: Not all grandmothers are created equal. This one apparently thinks she can get even with you for the breakup with her son by taking it out on your child knowing that will upset you.

Don’t let her play this game anymore. You have to stand up for your boy. Since Grandma doesn’t seem to like her grandchild, he can’t be left there again.

No doubt your son feels his grandmother’s coldness and mean treatment. He’ll probably be relieved to be able to skip the parties and visits at her house.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I’m 25 and have a lot of tattoos. I recently met this new girl I really like and we have been on a few dates. She was asking me all about my tattoos and the history of them. I took off my shirt and showed her several, including one representing my ex-girlfriend.

That seemed to be a big mistake. She told me to cover it up or totally get rid of it if I want to go out with her.

I think she is being unreasonable. I don’t really want to get rid of it, as it’s a beautiful tattoo of a bear that was symbolic of my ex-girlfriend’s strength and spirituality. What do you think?

— Tagged, Transcona

Dear Tagged: Other people shouldn’t get to decide if your old tattoos stay or go, and they certainly don’t get to veto any new works of art. Just as you wouldn’t ask this girl to burn photos of friends, old loves, family and beloved pets, she doesn’t get to wipe out the important symbols of your life tattooed on your skin.

“Goodbye” would be the smartest thing to tell this new woman. Someone who starts dating a tattoo-loving person like you needs to see your ink as works of art and personal histories — not as personal threats to her.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Maureen Scurfield

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Liquor authority fines True North $12K after minors with fake ID served at Jets White Out party

Nicole Buffie 5 minute read Preview

Liquor authority fines True North $12K after minors with fake ID served at Jets White Out party

Nicole Buffie 5 minute read Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

True North Sports and Entertainment was hit with a $12,000 fine for serving minors with fake IDs during a Winnipeg Jets White Out street party in 2025.

The company was fined by the Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority of Manitoba on May 13, 2025 after liquor inspectors attended the May 9 street party and witnessed two two minors in possession of and consuming liquor. One was visibly intoxicated, according to a compliance order dated May 15, 2025.

Both minors had security-issued “18+” wristbands and were using identification that was expired and “clearly not their image.”

The compliance order, provided to the Free Press by the LGCA, said inspectors also noticed inadequate identification checking by security before issuing the wristbands, which identify the people wearing them as being of legal drinking age.

Read
Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

Canadian figure skating coaching couple boasts astonishing 11 Olympic ice dance teams

Rosie DiManno - Star Columnist, Toronto Star 6 minute read Preview

Canadian figure skating coaching couple boasts astonishing 11 Olympic ice dance teams

Rosie DiManno - Star Columnist, Toronto Star 6 minute read Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022

The post-career success of Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon has been nothing short of dazzling and surely immensely lucrative.

Read
Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022

A Manitoba pharmacist has been hit with $100,000 in fines and costs after a disciplinary panel found he dispensed a “staggering” amount of drugs that could not be accounted for.

Glen Pauch, who worked at a Portage la Prairie pharmacy, was fined the maximum $25,000 by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba and ordered to pay another $75,000 toward the cost of the investigation and disciplinary proceedings.

A 28-page disciplinary decision, dated June 9, found more than 39,000 doses went unaccounted for while Pauch was consuming drugs and improperly dispensing controlled substances — including opioids oxycodone and hydromorphone, and Concerta, a stimulant prescribed for ADHD — to 11 patients.

The college found Pauch failed to properly document the drugs he dispensed and did not maintain required records for controlled substances returned to the pharmacy or received from suppliers.

Finland's leaders call for NATO membership 'without delay'

Jari Tanner, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Finland's leaders call for NATO membership 'without delay'

Jari Tanner, The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, May. 12, 2022

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s leaders said Thursday they’re in favor of rapidly applying for NATO membership, paving the way for a historic expansion of the alliance that could deal a serious blow to Russia as its military struggles with its war in Ukraine.

The dramatic move by Finland was announced by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin. It means that Finland is all but certain to join NATO, though a few steps remain before the application process can begin. Neighboring Sweden is expected to decide on joining NATO in coming days.

“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance,” Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement. “Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”

The Kremlin reacted to the development a few hours later, saying that Finland’s move to join NATO won’t help stability and security in Europe. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) land border with Russia.

Read
Thursday, May. 12, 2022

Former Bison rules CFL roost New CFL commissioner hands off credit to family, football

Jeff Hamilton 5 minute read Preview

Former Bison rules CFL roost New CFL commissioner hands off credit to family, football

Jeff Hamilton 5 minute read Thursday, Jul. 6, 2017

There are few things Randy Ambrosie wants people to know about him more than his love for football and family. In a 20-minute interview with reporters Wednesday, Ambrosie, following his official announcement as the 14th commissioner of the Canadian Football League, made clear his devotion to the game through anecdotes featuring his loved ones.

“You’ll get used to the fact that I talk about my family a lot,” said Ambrosie.

“And you’ll find with the Ambrosie family we cry a lot, quite easily.”

The 54-year-old appeared to get misty-eyed when sharing a number of stories from his past, a humbling beginning that first began in Winnipeg before expanding into careers as a football player and business leader in Toronto. During a separate interview with the Free Press, which was the first news outlet to report Ambrosie’s hiring last week, he dove further into his connection to Winnipeg.

Read
Thursday, Jul. 6, 2017

Dream season for Ponder who has yet to miss a cut on PGA Tour Americas

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Dream season for Ponder who has yet to miss a cut on PGA Tour Americas

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 8:13 PM CDT

He may not be a household name to average golf fans just yet, but that’s likely about to change rather quickly.

And local lovers of the sport might want to hurry down to Elmhurst this week to catch a glimpse of Thomas Ponder before he’s off to play where the grass is even greener. Or, at the very least, where the paycheques are much bigger.

Ponder enters this year’s Manitoba Open atop the PGA Tour Americas points list and is a virtual lock to, at the very least, earn promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour for 2027, which is awarded to the top 10 finishers.

A jump directly to the PGA Tour — the way recent Manitoba Open winners such as Hayden Springer and Johnny Keefer, and other competitors such as Neal Shipley and Michael Brennan, have made — wouldn’t be a huge surprise, either.

Read
Yesterday at 8:13 PM CDT