'We Couldn't Have Kids, and Now My Clueless In-Laws Are Tormenting Us!"

Most people want to believe that suffering is avoidable.

Rust Red Hills (1930) by Georgia O’Keeffe

Dear Polly,

This year, after more than a decade of grueling effort, the last few in the adoption process, my husband and I stopped trying to have a child. It's felt exactly like a major bereavement - because it is, I guess. Our social worker and agency repeatedly let us down. Going on would've meant hurting oursel…