| KYODO, Japan (UPI) -- Japan's justice minister says she plans to begin introducing bills in January against discriminatory marriage- and family-related laws in the civil code.
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said she would submit a bill to the National Diet of Japan so that married couples can choose to have the same family name or keep their unmarried surnames, Kyodo News reported Sunday.
Under the proposed amendment, children of married couples may take the surname of either parent, Kyodo News said.
The amendment also would mean women would no longer be barred from remarriage for six months after a divorce, but rather will be required to wait only about 100 days, the newspaper said.
It is likely that under the new amendment children born to unmarried parents would no longer be entitled to receive only half the inheritance permitted to legitimate children, but could inherit equally under the amendment.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International
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| Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Annie: My 14-year-old son, "Steven," worries me to no end. He has no drive or ambition. He tells me he wants to attend college and become a computer programmer, yet he won't put forth the effort to complete his ninth-grade assignments. And when he does finish them, he often neglects to turn them in. Steven's teachers believe he has the ability to earn A's, but he is a C student, with a few D's and F's.
Steven has no follow through, even on simple tasks. He can spend hours creating online gaming avatars, but can't remember to feed the dog. He doesn't take out the trash or pick up his socks without being asked repeatedly. I have to remind him every single day to brush his teeth and wear deodorant.
Steven is not involved in extracurricular activities, nor does he have any interest in starting. His idea of a fun day is eating and playing computer games. He has several close friends, all of whom are just like him.
Being a college-educated single mom, I realize the power of perseverance and hard work, and it seriously concerns me that my son is not preparing for what life may hand him. I fear he will grow up to be an unsavory character, a man who thinks everything should come to him without effort. What can I do to lead him toward a more promising path? -- Frustrated Mom in Michigan City, Ind.
Dear Frustrated: Not everything is cause for concern. At 14, some of this behavior (forgetting to pick up his socks, preferring video games to extracurricular activities) is not unusual. Neglecting to turn in completed homework could indicate an attention-deficit problem, and you might want to have him evaluated.
The fact that your son has several friends is a good sign, and try to keep in mind that your involvement in his education can make a huge difference in his academic values. Encourage his involvement in areas where he has interest or talent -- perhaps his school has a computer club or one of your friends works in game design -- and don't give up on him.
Dear Annie: We've had a group of friends for over 20 years. One male friend recently married a woman who is making us miserable with her constant criticism and pessimistic view on many topics.
She recently opened her big mouth once again and really hurt the person to whom she was talking. We have suggested she keep such comments to herself, but she pays no attention. We enjoy our old friend's company, but not his wife's. What should we do? -- Ready To Divorce Her
Dear Ready: Talk to your friend and explain the problem. Don't denigrate his new wife, but make it clear that the rest of the group is having a problem adjusting to her. She may be trying to assert her position by running roughshod over her husband's old friends, and if so, he needs to ask her to stop. Otherwise, your choices are to put up with her, see him when she's not around or stop seeing both of them.
Dear Annie: I was interested in the letter from "Deeply Depressed Texas Mom" because it happened to me. My son's girlfriend was sweet and loving. When they got engaged, she said, "Let's plan the wedding together." Then her mother came into the picture, and I was systematically excluded.
Somehow the florist was one corsage short, so I didn't get one. They told me the bride's room was only for the bridal party, and I was not allowed in. When they cut the cake, I was told my presence was not required. I had to request that the band (that I paid for) play a mother-son dance since it was not on their playlist, although the father-daughter dance went on for 10 minutes.
This has continued into the marriage. Her family ranks, and I do not. I miss the son I once had, but I am not so sure about the man I see now. -- Been There, Too, in California
Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie's Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2010 Creators Syndicate Inc.
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