Get serious if you hope to keep family intact

Maureen Scurfield Miss Lonelyhearts
By: Maureen Scurfield Posted:

Advertisement

Advertise with us

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m not going to tell my uninterested wife this yet, but she has some competition brewing, as there’s a woman on one of my sports teams who has been chasing me.

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 17/12/2025 (276 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m not going to tell my uninterested wife this yet, but she has some competition brewing, as there’s a woman on one of my sports teams who has been chasing me.

I haven’t given in to her yet, but last night when my wife told me I wouldn’t be getting a present from her this year because she was spending all her money on the kids, I just choked.

Such an obvious lie, and I had just spent $250 on gifts for her. When I told her that, she called me demanding and said I was trying to buy back her love.

True, my feelings for her have cooled, but I still want to love my wife, as she is the mother of my boys.

If we split up, they would be living with her. That would break my heart as I am a loving and active father and used to sleeping under the same roof with my family in our home together. Please help me out.

— Desperate to Save Family, St. James

Dear Desperate: You are closer to the brink of a breakup than your wife realizes — and she needs to know that. The new year is when fed-up people often make resolutions to improve their lives — and marriages are often first in line for fixing.

First off, if you’re serious about staying under the same roof as your family, forget about this female teammate. If necessary, find a new team to join to avoid this dangerous situation.

Then you need to have a serious talk with your wife and let her know that you are deeply concerned about the future of your marriage and family situation.

Tell her you’re putting aside money for couples counselling in January. Book now, as there could be a wait involved after the holidays.

If you want to save your marriage, this will at least show your wife you’re serious about making an effort for the sake of your family.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My boyfriend disclosed to me he is not buying me an engagement ring again this Christmas, and now I don’t want him anymore.

We have been dating six years (since Grade 9) and he still doesn’t know whether he wants me or not. What do you think? We are already in university.

—Embarrassed and Hurting, West End

Dear Embarrassed and Hurting: Sounds like a great time for a breakup. You’re old news to this guy, so start the new year a free woman. You can find a fantastic guy at university if you aren’t saddled with this tired old boyfriend.

But make sure to get some personal help for the breakup pain through your university’s counselling services. That will help get you past this boyfriend and help ease you into a new romantic life.

Once you’re healed and feeling confident, you can more easily find a new man who will love you like crazy, and appreciate your beautiful brain and personality.

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.

   Read full biography

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.

Maureen Scurfield

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

   Read full biography

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.

Related Articles

Be generous guests to gratify wild granny Song should be about your wife, not you Don’t waste time now mutual interest is clear Get busy while wife’s on ice to stay warmer A heartwarming gift need not cost you much Keep kids busy for a less stressed Christmas Eve ID’ing mystery gifter will take a bit of work Forget ‘fate’ — focus on agency to move forward Don’t let workmate drive wedge into marriage Don’t keep lid on mother-daughter reunion

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Learn more about Winnipeg Free Press Advertising solutions

More Stories

Premier Brian Pallister's decision to threaten his political appointees with termination is both surprising and not surprising. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Premier’s travel edict a dangerous political move

Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview

Premier’s travel edict a dangerous political move

Dan Lett 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021

Mr. Blue had already been out of Manitoba for a couple of weeks when he got the news that he was in violation of a new and harshly worded edict from Premier Brian Pallister.

Issued hastily on Monday night, the new commandment declared that any government appointee who travels "for leisure purposes" outside Manitoba could be terminated from their positions. People like Mr. Blue.

A life-long Manitoba Progressive Conservative, Mr. Blue, who asked that his real name not be used, has organized campaigns, recruited candidates and raised money. Currently, he sits on the board of an arm's-length government entity, appointed by Pallister.

And right now, he also happens to be at his vacation property in a popular, warm-weather destination.

Read
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021
ZOE PIERCE / FREE PRESS Where once there were mature trees along Selkirk Avenue, only stumps remain after Manitoba Hydro cut them down last fall as a safety precaution.

Selkirk Avenue resident misses sound of silence

Zoe Pierce 4 minute read Preview

Selkirk Avenue resident misses sound of silence

Zoe Pierce 4 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026

Selkirk Avenue resident Gail Allard sits on her front steps, looking at a row of tree stumps.

Until last fall, Allard would have opened her front door to a lush canopy of mature trees. Now, she has an unobstructed view of a freight terminal — the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. intermodal yard.

Although the residential street is quiet on this August afternoon, the steady beeping of machinery moving shipping containers carries throughout the neighbourhood.

It’s the first summer since Manitoba Hydro cut down 262 mature trees — most of them Siberian elms — along Selkirk Avenue between Keewatin and Railway streets.

Read
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026

Building Northern Manitoba right

Morris Beardy 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

I had the pleasure of attending the recent celebrations welcoming grain shipments back to the Port of Churchill, alongside business leaders, port workers, community members and government partners. We find ourselves at an important and pivotal moment and there is a lot of optimism about Northern Manitoba.

Whether it’s the Port of Churchill Plus, all-weather roads and trade corridors, new mines and exploration, a transmission line to Nunavut or billions going into modernizing our hydro-electric systems, one thing is clear: Northern Manitoba needs to be prepared for a potential boom in development.

Now more than ever, Canada and Manitoba have to get this right.

Prime Minister Carney and Canada’s premiers have met with some of the world’s largest investors to discuss nation-building projects that will shape our country’s future.

A guide to back-to-school rules across the country

The Canadian Press 16 minute read Friday, Aug. 7, 2020

Plans are being made across the country for how to safely send students back to school in the fall as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Here is a look at what the various provinces have said about getting kids back to classes.

---

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Roy Lubit, psychiatrist, explains at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, that Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, parents of Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, have

Sandy Hook parents: Alex Jones claims created ‘living hell’

Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Sandy Hook parents: Alex Jones claims created ‘living hell’

Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press 6 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fighting back tears and finally given the chance to confront conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the parents of a 6-year-old killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting described being put through a “living hell” of death threats, harassment and ongoing trauma over the last decade caused by Jones using his media platforms to push claims that it was all a hoax.

The parents led a day of charged testimony that included the judge scolding the bombastic Jones for not being truthful with some of what he said under oath.

Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook, took the witness stand Tuesday on the final day of testimony in the two-week defamation damages trial against Jones and his media company Free Speech Systems. They are seeking at least $150 million in damages.

In a gripping exchange, Lewis spoke directly to Jones, who was sitting about 10 feet away. Earlier that day, Jones was on his broadcast program telling his audience that Heslin is “slow” and being manipulated by bad people.

Read
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022

Letters, Sept. 19

7 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Addicted to gambling

Re: Sweeney’s sexist U.S. gambling site ad not the real problem, Sept 17

Dan Lett’s analysis of the issue was very good. Something I would like to elaborate about the Canadian context is that provincial governments are not just betting on sports gaming to be big money, they’re actively encouraging problem gambling.

Take the Alberta-based ad in which a gambler is encouraged to spend their time gambling on their phone whenever there’s a break in the action at a baseball game. Every half-inning, every pitching change, should be spent gambling rather than being in the moment. The Ontario ads aren’t much better, just more subtle in how they normalize problematic gambling behaviour.