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 [...]

Game Changers

Dear Short Answers: My niece just had a baby.  No one called me — I found out on Facebook.  I am sick of being an internet gift service. Do I have to send yet another unappreciated offering? Distant Auntie Dear Auntie: No. It is better to risk their anger than assure yours. Like Unlike

Watchful Waiting

Dear Short Answers: My baby sister is very upset about a lot of things. And she seems to want to alienate me as well. It seems like with things falling apart around her we should be closer but she seems intent on driving me away. What do you make of this? Ruth Dear Ruth: This [...]

This Is Called Enabling

Dear Short Answers: I have a child who is a college senior and can’t get his financial act together. He works part time and spends every cent. Up until a couple years ago, I took care of transferring his money into savings and that worked until I told him he needed to take care of [...]

When Is Enough, Enough?

Dear Short Answers: My husband recently threw out his back and has been barely walking for the past 3 weeks. At first, I waited on him hand and foot and made him rest. He basically sat in front of the TV every minute that he was home while I brought him dinner and snacks and [...]

A Package Deal

Dear Short Answers: What do you do if you absolutely can’t stand to be around your husband-to-be’s family? I mean, I get physically sick just thinking about having to go to the in-laws for dinner or spend time with his brothers and sisters. There is no rational reason for this. They seem to be perfectly [...]

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.  [...]

All Choices Work for Us

Dear Short Answers: I gave a young but distant relative a generous gift and three months later have had no response. What should I think about that? Annoyed Dear A: You can think anything you wish: 1) the recipient is ungrateful and unworthy of additional largess on your part, 2) the recipient is ill-mannered and [...]

Brave New World

Dear Short Answers: Under what circumstances is it acceptable to elope? Thinking About It Dear Thinking: It is quite acceptable if it is what you and your intended wish to do. If necessary, remind relatives and friends that it really is about the two of you. Like Unlike

The World According to Hallmark

Dear Short Answers: A very good friend invited me to a fancy dinner party at her home for Valentine’s Day. I thought it was a wonderful idea since my husband died this past year and I knew that Valentine’s Day was going to be hard for me. A few days before the dinner, my friend [...]

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