ArcaMax

We are both in our 90s. I am a former schoolteacher and principal and love children. This really hurts.

I realize there is not much we can do, but what do you think of this kind of treatment, especially to elderly, caring, loving grandparents? -- Wounded

Dear Wounded: I think this treatment is unfortunate. I also think it is quite telling that you are so judgmental of your son-in-law's "dysfunctional" family.

How is yours functioning, by the way?

My point is that there are no perfect families. We are all just spinning in our orbits, making mistakes, making messes and trying to clean up after ourselves.

I hope that you have done everything possible to own up to your own behavior and any role you have played in this estrangement.

Treasure those children and grandchildren you do have a relationship with. Don't involve them in this estrangement and don't ask them to take sides.

Dear Amy: "Not a Fan" wrote about aggressive Little League coaches.

Those coaches should be reported to the league officials.

A winning coach on a second-grade baseball team in our town was relentless at loudly humiliating children on other teams.

He was eventually banned from coaching and attending games. My son was 7 years old, and quit baseball for a year over this humiliation.

When he was in fourth grade, he wanted to try baseball again, and he enjoyed playing for several years. -- Liz

Dear Liz: I'm glad he went back to the game.

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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook. Amy Dickinson's memoir, "The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter and the Town that Raised Them" (Hyperion), is available in bookstores.)