The Strawberry Letter: He's Angry Because I Like His Side Piece

Dear Steve and Shirley,

I'm a 48-year-old single mother of a 28-year-old grown man. Like me, my son started having children at an early age. I encouraged him to marry the mother of his three children, so they went to the courthouse in 2022 and got married. His wife has done a complete 360. She means 180, but she said 360. She means 180. Now that they're living together, we can see who she really is. He has tried to overlook her weed smoking, drinking, and hanging out with hoochies. He's told me that he's trying to make it work.

That was before last month. He went to the grocery store with me, and we ran into one of my friends and her daughter. The girl just bought a house and runs her alterations business from home. My son could not take his eyes off of her. They exchanged phone numbers just in case his wife needed her alteration services. He called her as soon as he got back to my house, and they've been talking since then. He has been to her house before, but he won't tell me what happened. He has invited her to my house for dinner with us. I love this woman for him, and I feel bad that I forced him to marry the mother of his kids.

I told him that I'm sorry he's in a bad marriage, but I was only thinking of his children when I told him to get married. He went off on me, called me a meddler, and said I'm wrong for liking the new girl so much. He should be mad at her for putting that thing on him and confusing him. Should I take the blame for what's going on in his life, or was this bound to happen? Why is all of this anger directed at me?