I gave my sister-in-law advice on her love life.

[NNadir]

6. Oh I know. Actually though, she's had lots of therapy.

My own relationship with her is part brother-in-law, part big brother, part father, and yes, part therapist.

I've tried to explain that these guys are a subset of men.

My wife is one of four sisters. My father-in-law, although he was a doctor, was subject to a great deal of verbal abuse from my mother-in-law, who had a habit of telling my sister-in-law things that no daughter should know about her mother. Their relationship was something beyond belief, but my sister-in-law ended up with some very distorted views of men, about which she knew very little.

My wife left home at 17 and married me when she turned 22. For many years we kept our distance, but when my sister-in-law entered her teens, I stepped in and tried to help.

I'm still trying, but it's frustrating sometimes, sad and overwhelming.

She's such a beautiful person, but doesn't know it.

My mother-in-law died this year, and I hope against hope that there will ll be some intellectual and spiritual freedom for my sister-in-law.