The Biggest Amateur Game in Town

Dear Short Answers: I am expecting a baby in September and have become very concerned about my husband’s ability to take care of a newborn.  He’s clumsy and absent-minded and he couldn’t even take care of our dog.  He would forget to walk her and forget to feed her and was constantly stepping on her.  [...]

Private Event

Dear Short Answers: My best friend is expecting a baby in the fall and she seems like the least excited expectant mother I have ever met.  She hardly ever talks about it – even though I always ask.  She talks about her job, her search for a new house and her vacation – but says [...]

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

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.  [...]

MIA

Dear Short Answers: I have a very dear friend who has had 2 children over the past 4 years. Before the kids, we went out together, talked almost every day and truly enjoyed each other’s company. I know that kids will change relationships like this but ever since they were born, that’s all my friend [...]

Faulty Syllogism

Dear Short Answers: Why am I afraid to get married? Everyone else I know is finally doing it and my boyfriend would probably say “yes” if I asked him but I am really afraid that all the good stuff we have together will disappear if we actually get married. Why can’t we just have a [...]

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 [...]

Easy One

Dear Short Answers: I invited a couple to a cocktail party starting at 8:00 pm. They brought their 4 month old daughter. They spent the entire night trying to stop her from crying. I invited the same couple to a costumed Halloween cocktail party at 8:00 pm.  Invite stated “A night of adult fun, no [...]

Decoration or Danger?

Dear Short Answers: At what age do you think it’s acceptable for a child to get a tattoo? There is a single mother in our neighborhood who has gotten tattoos (and piercings) for her two small children who I think are about age 2 and 4. I think this is totally inappropriate. I don’t really [...]

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