Dear LFTP: the niece's Hollywood play
- How can we get out of attending our niece's self-produced play without causing resentment?
A letter-writer's niece spent twelve years in Hollywood, landed only a hand-model commercial, then wrote a one-woman play she produces, directs, and stars in — expecting family to pay $50 a head, and the writer asks how to get out of it without resentment. The hosts say just go: you'll either be impressed or get a story for the drive home, guilt is the family's fault if they lay it on, and even a bad completed play deserves appreciation for the effort — 'I still go to the little kids soccer games. They're terrible. I still go.' The Secular answer says spend the $50 for the sake of the family, which the hosts soften: drop the family-pressure framing, but go anyway.
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.