DEAR ABBY: I’m overwhelmed by “Barney,” my husband of 35 years. Two years ago, he decided to retire, but I am still very much part of the workforce and anticipate continuing for a few more years. For years, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve successfully managed working from home, which was not an issue until Barney stopped working. Upon his retirement, I had a talk with him about the importance of respecting my work boundaries. My office is upstairs, leaving him the entire downstairs area to enjoy without disruption during business hours.

Regrettably, Barney hasn’t been considerate of the boundaries I set. He often disrupts my work by calling me downstairs to assist him or by interrupting my office time for chats. He constantly asks about dinner plans and gets agitated if I’m still working past 5 p.m. He also insists on physical affection, which is challenging while I’m trying to work. During his career, he frequently worked late and on weekends without objections from me, yet now he doesn’t offer me the same courtesy or respect.

Initially, I attempted to devote more attention to Barney because of my love for him. Now his endless complaints have grown so unbearable, I find myself reluctant to spend any of my free time with him. I’ve lost interest in any physical affection. I’ve tried discussing this with him and suggested couples counseling, but he adamantly refuses.

While I generally consider myself a happy person, my time with Barney leaves me feeling sad, and I’m weary of this emotional burden. Although I’ve contemplated renting office space as a potential solution, it wouldn’t address the deeper issue of Barney’s lack of respect. — GIVE ME SPACE

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DEAR GIVE ME SPACE: A partial solution can still offer relief. Consider renting that office space. By reducing workday disruptions, you can better gauge the weight of the problem. With your work stress possibly out of the way, take a closer look at how Barney treats you and assess the necessary changes for your relationship. Despite his reluctance toward couples counseling, attending therapy on your own is still a viable option. You might acquire strategies to handle his disruptive behavior more effectively.

DEAR ABBY: My 40-year-old niece has lived in my sister’s basement for five years now. She has had many ups and downs since running away at 15, but she was able to get a degree in engineering, fly helicopters, etc., so she is intelligent. I don’t know why she has withdrawn to such a degree. 

Should I ask my sister or brother-in-law how she is doing when I call? I feel it’s normal and natural that I ask, but the question always brings a painful silence followed by, “She’s figuring out her life.” She does not work or look for it, hides from the public, and behaves like a 16-year-old. Should I quit asking? — UNCLE IN THE DARK

DEAR UNCLE: If you do not ask how your niece is doing, it will appear that you do not care. So, the next time you speak to your relatives and your question is met with an uncomfortable pause, consider asking whether they would rather you not ask.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren. For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips penned the column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 270135, Kansas City, MO 64127.

In a significant legal development, a mother from New York was acquitted of charges related to the death of her two young sons after a judge accepted her insanity defense due to postpartum psychosis.

Dimone Fleming, aged 22 at the time of the tragic incident, faced accusations of fatally stabbing her sons—11-month-old Octavius Canada and three-year-old Daishawn Fleming—before placing them in a bath on November 26, 2022, as reported by The New York Times.

On Monday, Judge Audrey Stone declared Fleming, now 26, not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect during a hearing at the Bronx Criminal Court.

This ruling coincides with the anticipatory climate surrounding the verdict of another high-profile case involving Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy, who presents a similar defense regarding her alleged involvement in the deaths of her three children.

Court documents reviewed by the New York Times indicate that both Fleming and Clancy were undergoing treatment for depression and anxiety before the unfortunate events involving their children occurred.

Fleming was working at a concession stand in Queens and living in a shelter in the Mount Hope neighborhood of the Bronx with her two sons.

She was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and prescribed psychotropic medication by doctors.

However, Fleming was instead using marijuana on a daily basis, which amplified her symptoms.

Psychiatrist Dr Eric Goldsmith, who evaluated Fleming at the prosecution’s request, wrote in a report that the mom-of-two was ‘grossly psychotic and out of touch with reality’ on the night she killed her sons. 

Goldsmith said that Fleming was hallucinating and thought the world was coming to an end.

She also believed that a spirit had invaded her body, according to the psychiatrist.

A forensic psychiatric report written by doctors from the defense said Fleming thought her actions ‘were necessary to protect or cleanse her children.’

Fleming was naked from the waist up and holding a children’s book upside down while sitting on a bed when police found her in the shelter, according to prosecutors.

Unlike Clancy’s case, prosecutors did not aggressively pursue conviction, although Fleming was originally charged with first-degree murder.

‘Prosecuting mothers does not and cannot prevent these crimes from happening, but public discourse might,’ Tiffany Wichman, a Bronx assistant district attorney, said.

‘People talking about it is important, and I hope people continue talking about it.’

Fleming’s lawyer, Jodi Morales, called the result of the case ‘a result of collaboration.’

‘Everybody recognized what we were dealing with here,’ she said. ‘That doesn’t happen often when you’re on opposite sides of the table.’ 

Fleming allegedly stabbed her kids with kitchen shears and covered them with a sheet after placing them in the bathtub.

Police were called to the shelter shortly before 7.30pm after an employee noticed smoke and water emanating from Fleming’s apartment after she left a faucet running and the stove on.

The two children were initially not discovered and Fleming was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx for treatment.

However, Columbus Canada, Octavius’ father and Fleming’s boyfriend at the time, found the kids when he returned home later that night.

Canada was in court on Monday and said he forgave Fleming, who he called a ‘good person,’ according to the New York Times.

‘She was a loving person,’ Canada told the outlet. ‘She loved kids.’

Going forward, Fleming could be held at a high-security hospital for an initial six months.

That would be extended indefinitely if her condition does not improve.

Should doctors find her to be mentally ill but not dangerous, she could also be sent to a more open hospital for further evaluation.

Fleming could also be discharged if she is found to be mentally fit. However, the court would likely place conditions on her freedom.

Fleming confirmed that she understood the proceedings in court on Monday.

She is expected to return to court on September 18 after being evaluated by court-appointed psychiatrists.

Fleming’s case drew comparisons to Clancy’s murder trial, which will return to deliberations on Monday. 

Clancy’s defense team has argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis when she killed her children and unsuccessfully tried to take her own life.

Judge William Sullivan allowed the jurors to go home for the weekend after they failed to reach a verdict following two days of deliberations.

The jury asked to see the knife that Clancy used to try to take her life, as well as bags of pill bottles found in her home, on Friday. 

Postpartum psychosis afflicts roughly one to two per 1,000 women after delivery, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Fleming’s lawyer, Morales, and the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for comment.

The New York Jets are facing a critical issue with their kicker lineup.

Jason Sanders emerged victorious over Cade York in the Jets’ summer-long competition for the kicker position. However, with their upcoming game against the Titans on September 13, it seems likely that the team is actively scouting for additional kicking talent.

Sanders struggled noticeably on Friday night during the match against the Giants, failing to convert an extra point and missing a 54-yard field goal attempt.

His attempt at the 54-yard field goal fell significantly short of the mark.

While Sanders has struggled to inspire much confidence throughout the off-season, his performance was marginally more reliable than York’s, which led to the Jets’ decision to retain Sanders and release York last Tuesday.

That came one day after Sanders went 2-for-5 in practice field goal attempts. Sanders has not shown a big leg at all and now is even missing shorter kicks.

“Am I worried about it?” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said after the Jets’ 23-6 preseason loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium. “I didn’t like the fact that we missed these field goals. But the thing is we’re not going to panic and we’re going to make sure we make the right decision to make sure either we fix those issues or we get the right person in here.

“Jason’s been good for us. He’s been good in practice. I’m going to evaluate that and see exactly what direction we’ll go.”

The Jets did not re-sign Nick Folk in free agency after he had an outstanding 2025 season.

Folk instead signed with the Falcons.

The Jets now may be searching for another kicker either through a trade or on the waiver wire after teams make cuts this weekend.

Edge rusher Joseph Ossai started, one of the few players expected to have a big regular-season role to play.

But Ossai left with a foot injury after 11 plays and did not return.

Ossai was on the sideline and looked OK, but it is an injury to watch since the Jets expect him to have a role on defense after signing him to a three-year, $34.5 million contract in March.

Rookie guard Anez Cooper left the game with a shoulder injury.

CB Tre Brown (finger) and RB Dominic Richardson (elbow) also left the game.