KATHY MITCHELL AND MARCY SUGAR \ Annie's Mailbox Child could be in danger if visitation is allowed

Dear Annie: I am the mother of a 2-year-old girl. The father left three months after she was born, and we had to fend for ourselves.
I am 23 years old, juggling college and working full time to be able to support my daughter. Thank God for my parents, as I live with them to help me get by.
My daughter's father had a drug and alcohol problem that I found out about later in the relationship. I considered taking my ex-boyfriend to court for child support, but after discussing it with a lawyer, I was told my ex may get visitation rights in exchange. My ex is very abusive. I have scars from him that no one knows about because he threatened to hurt me if I told anyone.
What is our legal system coming to? If I ask for child support, my little girl would be going into a dangerous household. My ex didn't show up at the hospital when she was born, and he denies her as his daughter, but I can guarantee he will demand visitation if he must pay. What do I do? Concerned Single Parent
Dear Concerned: The legal system assumes that a man who pays child support will want to be part of his child's life. Since no one knows about the abuse, you cannot expect it to be taken into consideration, but it's time you spoke up. Discuss it with your attorney, along with your ex's record of drug and alcohol abuse, and ask if visitation could be under supervision only. If the answer is "probably not," figure out if you can raise your child on your own by getting help from your parents until you finish your college education and get a better-paying job.
Dear Annie: Please help me spread the word about the availability of objective, easy-to-understand information on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. While stories on this new program's availability have dominated the media in recent months, there are still eligible seniors who have yet to enroll in the program, which took effect Jan. 1.
Seniors have until May 15 to sign up without facing a late-enrollment penalty, but with each day that goes by, these retirees are missing out on benefits that could save them hundreds (and for some, thousands) of dollars each year.
Many are concerned or confused about the numerous options from which to choose. Medicare Today -- a national coalition of more than 375 organizations representing seniors, patients, health care groups, employers and others -- is working to make things easier.
We are currently holding informational and enrollment events in communities across the country, providing seniors with opportunities to talk one- on-one with Medicare experts about their options.
A state-by-state listing of Medicare Today's educational events, easy-to- understand information about the new benefit and more, is available free of charge at www.MedicareToday.org. Mary R. Grealy, President, Healthcare Leadership Council
Dear Mary Grealy: Thank you so much. Many seniors are totally bewildered by the new benefit and have no idea what their choices are or how to go about signing up. We hope they will visit your Web site today so they can make a decision before late-enrollment penalties start kicking in after May 15.
Dear Annie: This is in response to the letter from "John," whose mother-in- law wanted their 11-year-old daughter to travel by herself for a visit.
John is in error thinking that the new security rules mean he cannot escort his daughter to the gate. All airports allow at least one parent or guardian to accompany and/or meet a minor child at the gate.
Any information about security requirements can be found at the Transportation Security Administration Web site at www.tsa.gov. A flight attendant
Dear Flight Attendant: We appreciate the information and the very useful Web site. Many thanks.
XE-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@com-cast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox™, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611.
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.