Dear Queenie,
My 10-year-old granddaughter has never spent a night away from home – no sleepovers with friends or even at my house or her other grandparents. I would like to have her visit for more than an hour or two, but her mother won’t allow it.
Queenie, is this normal?—Worried grandma
Dear Grandma,
It is unusual, but I would not go so far as to say it is abnormal. It could be that your granddaughter is rather timid about being separated from her parents, or that they are overprotective.
However, there may be some special reason for this. For example, she may have been bullied or even molested on such an occasion, and if this is the case, you should know about it. If you have not already discussed your concerns with her parents, you should do so.
