Dear LFTP: 16-year-old wants to attend a friend's wedding against her mom's wishes
- How can a 16-year-old convince her mom to let her attend a friend's wedding?
A 16-year-old writes that her grammar-school friend is marrying at 18, she was invited, but her mother forbids her to go or even talk to the friend. The hosts argue the mother is using love as a bargaining chip: disagreeing with someone's choices does not license withholding love, and the mom should have the conversation rather than forbid. Ted adds that as a parent he would want to be respectfully confronted by his kids. Consensus: the girl should approach her mom honestly and respectfully — but if the mom still says no, she must respect the decision and live under it gracefully, a life skill. The 'Secular' answer is read and criticized as needlessly cruel (implying the marriage will fail so the girl can watch from afar).
More on Family
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Dear LFTP: the mother-in-law moved in
- My mother-in-law moved in seven months ago and it’s been difficult — how can we sort this out?
The last letter comes from a wife whose mother-in-law moved in seven months ago with no boundaries, rising bills, unpaid prescriptions, and open disrespect.
From No. 604 · Rearview Mirror
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Dear LFTP: the single man and the holiday cliques
- Would it be wrong for the lonely single man to start declining holiday invitations?
The first Dear LFTP letter: a single man, happy with his life and plenty of friends and family, dreads the holidays — at Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings of 15 to 25 people,…
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Dear LFTP: the grandma, 'Libby,' and the weight comment
- Was I wrong to mention my concern about Libby's weight?
Mike reads the letter: she moved 2,000 miles to be near her daughter's family; granddaughter 'Libby' was diagnosed with a medical condition and put on weight.
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
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Dear LFTP: the Mimi letter ('Call Me Hoopi')
- Is it wrong for a grandmother to be upset when her grandson's other grandmother claims the same nickname?
Mike reads the Dear LFTP letter: a grandmother whose two-year-old grandson calls her Mimi — but the other grandmother claimed Mimi for herself, and the daughter-in-law is annoyed and doesn't want 'mom mom' either.