Dear Queenie,
I always send all my grandchildren gifts on special occasions. My daughter's children always thank me nicely for every gift, either by calling me or sending me a thank-you note, but my son's children don't.
My children were raised properly and I always made sure they showed gratitude for every gift the received, but my son isn't doing right by his children and I'm starting to think why should I bother to send them anything if they can't be bothered to say "thank you."
Queenie, should I stop sending gifts altogether or should I maybe make donations to worthy causes in their names instead?—Offended grandmother
Dear Queenie,
My wife’s grandmother’s husband used to molest her when she was little. She told her mother about it but nobody believed her.
Now we have children of our own we don’t want this man anywhere near them but we are afraid if we explain why it will cause hard feelings and maybe still nobody will believe the reason why.
Queenie, what to do?—Protective father
Dear Queenie,
My mother is a perfectionist and nothing I have ever done was good enough to satisfy her. After a while I just gave up trying.
I keep in touch with her out of sense of duty, but not as often as she would like so she accuses me of neglecting her.
Queenie, if she would show me some love and acceptance, I might be willing to have more to do with her, but like I said, nothing is good enough for her so I just stay away.—Sad daughter
Dear Queenie,
My wife’s grandmother’s husband used to molest her when she was little. She told her mother about it but nobody believed her.
Now we have children of our own we don’t want this man anywhere near them but we are afraid if we explain why it will cause hard feelings and maybe still nobody will believe the reason why.
Queenie, what to do?—Protective father
Dear Queenie,
My mother is a perfectionist and nothing I have ever done was good enough to satisfy her. After a while I just gave up trying.
I keep in touch with her out of sense of duty, but not as often as she would like so she accuses me of neglecting her.
Queenie, if she would show me some love and acceptance, I might be willing to have more to do with her, but like I said, nothing is good enough for her so I just stay away.—Sad daughter
