DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My boyfriend — who is newly divorced — has two great children from his marriage. Although he and I have been together since Christmas, it’s obvious he loves his kids much more than he loves me! For instance, he lavishes affection on the kids when they’re over and completely leaves me out. I’m just the cook and dish-washer for the night.

When I brought this up recently, he said, “My girlfriends don’t last, because if I’m openly affectionate with them, the kids tell their mother we’re making out in front of them! They want all my affection and attention when I’m with them.” Then he added, “Stick around, and the kids will probably loosen up.”

Stick around? The explanation and his “advice” totally turned me off. What do you think?

— Not Second-Best to Anyone, St. Vital

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: On our last day at a beach rental cabin the kids and I were packing up later than the rules asked for, when a familiar car pulled in next door. It was my ex-husband with his new woman and her kids.

My children yelled out, “Look Mom, it’s Daddy! He came to the lake to see us!” and ran over to him for hugs. His girlfriend had the cabin keys dangling, nodded at me, and went inside quickly.

I said to my former husband, “Fancy meeting you here! Come on kids, we’re going home now.” My ex said, “Oh, settle down. Give me a few minutes with my kids, will you?”

So, I finished packing and locked the cabin door, and waited for the kids for 30 minutes in our car. Then I started to cry. It just came gushing out and I couldn’t control it. Finally, my ex brought the children back out. He could see I’d been crying and said in disgust, “Get over it, princess. I have!”

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I work in a high rise downtown and every day I come to work at the same time. I often ride the elevator up with this new guy working a few floors under me. I always feel a little disappointed when he has to get off, and I continue up into the sky.

I’ve worked my way up to speaking pleasantries about the weather, and he responds with cute remarks about the clouds. The good news? He’s not wearing a ring. I also found out his first name from hearing other people say hello to him. Now what?

— Feeling Frustrated! Downtown

Dear Frustrated: Next time you’re on the elevator ride together, say “Hi! My name is such-and-such and I work at such-and-such. Where do you work up here in the clouds?” That should make him smile and break the ice. Then you could consider asking if he might like to join you for a coffee on a work break, if you can co-ordinate it.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: We love our grandchildren, but now we’re sick of them. The two sets of parents — our adult children — have been parking their kids out here on the farm with us while they take back-to-back road trips to see their friends. We’ve had enough.

Grandma and I want them to come back and get the “brats” (just joking, they’re nice kids) so we can relax.

You have to be so careful with city kids around the farm who don’t know when they’re going to make a mistake and get hoofed by an animal or run over by a farm implement.

How do we tell our kids the party is over early, and they really need to come back before grandma and I give out?

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I came home early from my family’s beautiful lake cottage with my heart broken in pieces. I’d taken my new love out there and he seemed so happy to go with me. Friends of mine at the lake helped by offering me their romantic cabin while they were away on a road trip.

After two days of bliss on the beach, walking the sandy shores at twilight, plus some great lovemaking, our trip felt absolutely magical to me. It was like the honeymoon I hope to have with him someday. I happily told my guy that over breakfast in the morning. His face fell.

He went out right away for a “long run,” and then he went again for a second one right after lunch. He didn’t come back for many hours, so I finally went down to the kiosks at the beach at 5 p.m. looking for him, asking if anyone had seen my guy.

One guy said, “Yeah, he was with your other visitor today — the red-headed girl.” I’d had no other visitor. I suddenly realized he must have met another woman at the beach, and passed her off as my friend. I just lost it!

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I hate camping, but my boyfriend is a born fisherman, and he loves it. I have always stayed home while he goes off with “the guys” to fish. Imagine my shock when I found out that these are no longer “guys-only” weekends. Some of them are bringing women up there, and not their mates.

My boyfriend never updated me on that, you can bet. I heard it from someone who has the inside track.

Now I strongly suspect my man is not being true to me anymore. Our sex life has diminished to almost nothing this summer. Should I drive up, catch him and confront him?

— Riled By Lies, Westwood