Apr 17, 2014 2 min read

Q. My husband keeps telling our sons they can do whatever they want when I tell them “no,” and that they don’t need to listen to me. He is never on my side. The kids make fun of me and call me names, and Dad doesn’t seem to care. When I insist that he back me up, he slaps them on the head.

I’m tired of him undermining me and encouraging the kids to be disrespectful to me. It’s been 18 years, and I’m ready to throw in the towel. Please help. – Disrespected Wife

A. Your husband is a terrible parent, and we don’t know why you have put up with it for so long. He sets a horrible example for his sons, teaching them that their mother doesn’t deserve their respect, that women should be ignored, that parenting is unimportant and when kids misbehave, just hit them. And frankly, by letting him get away with this, you have reinforced those attitudes. Tell your husband to come with you for parenting classes, or you will be seeking marriage counseling, with or without him, to see what’s worth saving.

Dear Annie: In response to “Warren, Ohio,” who claims she can’t find clothes for petites, I beg to differ. I’m 4-foot-9, and I find clothes all the time – just not at my local department stores. I shop online.

I highly recommend petitesource.com, which lists all the stores that offer petite wear by category.

Also, many major department stores sell a lot of sizes, but only online, so check the websites for Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdale’s, Talbots, Ann Taylor, Macy’s, Dillard’s and Kohl’s. And when I’m looking for a great sale, I can often find it at T.J. Maxx online.

You may have to return a few things initially, but sometimes you can return online purchases without incurring shipping costs if they have a local store nearby. – Tiny Grandma in Florida

Email questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net , or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.