Dear LFTP: teen drinking and the unacknowledged apology
- What should a mom do about her teen daughter's underage drinking at a sleepover and an apology email the other parents never acknowledged?
'Jenny's mom in Canada' writes about her 15-year-old daughter Jenny: at a sleepover at Penny's house, the parents left the girls alone, they drank beer, and Penny got drunk on hard liquor. Jenny sent a heartfelt apology email that was never acknowledged, and the mom wonders what to do — noting Jenny has already ditched Penny as a friend. The hosts advise letting it go, note apologies are best delivered in person ('email apologies are lame o'), and read the Secular answer: plenty of blame to go around — the parents shouldn't have left liquor available, but they were wrong to expect Jenny and Ginger to have prevented Penny's behavior.
More on Friendship
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Dear LFTP: 'Maid of Honor Fails to Follow Shower Instructions'
- Who is in the wrong — the bride or the maid of honor who won't follow the shower instructions?
The second Dear LFTP letter, titled 'Maid of Honor Fails to Follow Shower Instructions' (not a bathing problem — a bridal shower problem): the bride was clear she didn't want a…
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Dear LFTP: the $4,200 loan that never came back
- How do I get past the sadness over the $4,200 loan my friend never repaid — do I just let it go?
The final Dear LFTP letter: a year ago a supposed friend asked to borrow money — her husband had left the country to renew his visa, her car was repossessed, she had no way to get to work.
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Dear LFTP: Ralph calls three or four times a week
- How can I get my retired friend Ralph to call less frequently without being rude?
The letter: 'Ralph,' a longtime best friend, retired and is bored, so he calls three or four times a week 'even when there's nothing new to talk about,' rehashing the same things; subtle hints haven't worked; letting it go to voicemail just earns a callback request.
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
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Dear LFTP: the birthday-gift pressure
- My friends insist on giving me birthday presents I can't reciprocate. Shouldn't my wishes have been respected since it's my birthday?
Mike reads the first Dear LFTP letter: a part-time worker paying her own health insurance asked friends to skip presents at a triple birthday dinner; they refused, saying she needn't reciprocate.
From No. 601 · Humble Faithful Idiot