Boy-band obsession may fill emotional void

DEAR AMY: My stepdaughter has been very happily married for 10 years. When she was a teenager, she was completely enamored of a boy band. Her mother encouraged groupie-like behavior by traveling around the country with her for concerts. Eventually, my stepdaughter grew up. Her mother passed away. About three years ago, the boy band made a comeback. Immediately, my stepdaughter started spending lots of money going to every concert. She springs for cruises and high-dollar tickets for meet-and-greet parties. She follows them around the country. Her husband seems to support her in this pursuit. My husband and I see her spending lots of money, taking time away from her job and her husband and wonder if she is out of control. We feel that she may have a void in her life because she lost her mother. We have let her know that we disapprove of her obsession, and she has said to us that she knows "it's crazy." However, she still continues the immature behavior. If her husband doesn't have a problem with her behavior, should we just butt out?

--Concerned Stepmother 

DEAR STEPMOTHER: Some people drop everything to attend golfing tournaments, religious revivals or baby beauty pageants.

If this pursuit is interfering with your stepdaughter's ability to hold on to her job or her relationships, then she has a problem, but so far, this seems mainly to bother you.

I appreciate your assessment of this and agree that her behavior could be related to a void in her life.

If you decide to talk to her again, don't frame your conversation around your disapproval of her behavior. Ask her what she thinks about it and if her obsession enhances or detracts from the most important things in her life.

Therapy could help her explore all of her relationships - including her feelings about and relationship with you and her father.