Dear Annie: What is the best way to divide my inheritance to avoid bad feelings?

Dear Annie: I am inheriting a modest sum of money and would like to give some of it to my two married children. I would also like to give my daughter’s two young children some money that they can use for future educational needs. My son and his wife have no children and probably won’t have any in the future. They lost beautiful twins who were born prematurely many years ago.

I want to be fair and compassionate when distributing money. If I give the same amount to my two children and a smaller amount to our two grandchildren, do you think my son will find the distribution unfair? I realize I can handle the inheritance as I wish, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. We are all friendly and thoughtful people. – Grandma in a quandary

Dear grandma: Your thoughtfulness and consideration for everyone’s feelings shows what a caring grandma you are.

It is a perfectly fair approach to give each child the same amount, plus additional funds earmarked for your grandchildren’s education. However, because your son and daughter-in-law have suffered such a significant loss, it is wise to consider what emotional impact this might have on them. If you want, you can also provide them with something unique, such as a trip, to show special consideration.

Dear Annie: I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been seeing this girl “Angie” for eight months now. She is everything to me. I fell in love with her immediately and she said she loved me first within the first month.

But now I basically get yelled at for everything I say. Like today I called her for the first time at 2:30pm and she answered the phone and said, “What do you want?” I ask her what she’s up to and she says, “It’s none of your business” and then says : “I’m done talking now.” This is a typical conversation for us.

Annie, I never cheated on this girl. I have always treated her well. Is it cheating if I just stop talking to her and start looking for someone else? The bad thing is that I don’t want anyone else. But I’m not sure how much longer I can take this. – Should I stay or go?

Dear, should I stay: Before you start looking for someone else, you need to tell Angie that the relationship is over. Just because she doesn’t treat you well doesn’t mean you should stoop to her level.

As for whether you don’t want anyone else, you’ll never know until you start looking. You’ll be amazed at what a clean break and a little time can do.

“How can I forgive my unfaithful partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology—featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication, and reconciliation—is available in paperback and e-book. For more information, visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com. Send your questions to Annie Lane at [email protected].