Dear Queenie,
All our children are grown up and out on their own and we don’t get to see them much, so once a month we have a family dinner for everyone to get together, but one couple always shows up late even though they know what time we plan to start. We don’t like to start without them, but that’s not fair to all the others who come on time.
Queenie, how can we get them to not be so late?—Punctual parents
Dear Parents,
Do not worry so much about this couple’s non-punctuality. Make sure they know in advance what time you plan to start and start at that time whether they have arrived or not. When they do show up, just tell them that it was getting late so you started without them, that there are plates and food in the kitchen and they should help themselves (to whatever is left).
Perhaps having to make do with leftovers a couple of times will motivate them to be more punctual, but if it does not, at least all the rest of you will not have had to sit around waiting for them to arrive.
