Ask Polly

Ask Polly

'I'm Worried That I'll End Up With a Perpetually Broke Failure Like My Dad!'

Clarify your values and dare to live them.

Heather Havrilesky
Nov 22, 2023
∙ Paid
Spheres (1945) by Helen Lundberg

Dear Polly,

I am a 32-year-old woman, who grew up in a loving home, with emotionally supportive parents, and a fun-loving elder brother. There was only one fairly large problem in our family life: my father didn’t work. It’s not like it was uncommon for women to work during the ‘90s from where I come from, but my mother di…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Heather Havrilesky.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Heather Havrilesky · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture