It Will Only Get Worse

Dear Short Answers: My daughter graduates from kindergarten next week.  I am happy to celebrate the moment but the school she attends is having a full-blown “graduation” with cap & gown, diplomas, speeches — it’s crazy.  And they are selling tickets to the event for $100 EACH!!!!!  I don’t want to scar my daughter for [...]

Reproductions

Dear Short Answers: I am expecting a baby in June. If it’s a boy, my husband wants to call him John, after himself. What do you think of the practice of naming children after a living and present parent? Expectant Mom Dear Mom: Although this is a common custom in many cultures, we remain dubious.  [...]

Dues Paid

Dear Short Answers: Hillary Clinton is the most popular politician in America. Why is that? Wondering Why Dear WW: It’s a country western song!  She suffered many indignities (most hated first lady, cheating husband, working for her former adversary) and held  it together  with  some grace. Not to mention raising a lovely daughter in the [...]

Judgment Call

Dear Short Answers: What is the right age to allow teenagers to date? Mom Dear Mom: It depends on the teenager and it depends on the date. However, we do believe that there is safety in numbers, and the parent’s right to say “no.” Like Unlike

Boomerang Blues

Dear Short Answers:Our son just moved back home after living on his own for several years in another city. He is an adult now and we try not to make too many rules but he and his girlfriend were having a VERY good time this weekend and the sounds were “uncomfortable” for us and kept [...]

Just Testing

Dear Short Answers: My formerly angelic 5-year old has started to act out.  It’s hard to be specific, she is just bad all the time! No big changes in our life, so why is this happening? Mom Dear Mom: Maybe being an angel is boring. Maybe she is testing boundaries. Just make sure you don’t [...]

An Amateur’s Game

Dear Short Answers: My new daughter-in-law is a doll and, I thought, a responsible person. She recently accepted my offer to use my classic sports car, along with specific instructions on dealing with its idiosyncratic nature when driving. Everything and everyone is fine, but an unfortunate and expensive incident resulted from her admitted inattention. I [...]

Cents and Sensibility

Dear Short Answers: I have 2 children. One is reasonably well off, the other is chronically in debt. Do I treat them equally in my will? Mom Dear Mom: Which one were you considering rewarding — the grasshopper or the ant?  In general, we think an equal division is sensible and equitable regardless of circumstance.  [...]

Whose Story Is It?

Dear Short Answers: My son has been heavily involved with drugs and is doing his best to kick the habit. He’s been in jail and in rehab which means that he “disappears” for long periods of time. Most of my friends think he’s working or in college and they ask how he’s doing. I never [...]

Tough Love

Dear Short Answers: I found out last week that my niece (who is 20 years old) has had problems with heroine and has actually been arrested several times. I have 2 children (16 & 18) and I don’t want them associating with their cousin. This isn’t punative, it’s just common sense, I think. My brother [...]

keep looking »