Mother is perennially disappointed in adult son's choices
However, whenever I pop into his office, I get caught up in a 40-minute (almost entirely one-sided) conversation. It would be fine if it was work related, but it quickly veers off to personal topics.
There is nothing inappropriate discussed, but it's just really frustrating to get trapped listening to a random monologue about his life.
I don't want to stop popping in; I value his wisdom and support, but I don't want to be caught for nearly an hour every time I see him.
I need help diffusing these situations. There are almost no good segue moments to leave: the conversation just loses steam -- or a meeting pops up.
-- Trapped
Dear Trapped: One technique you could try is to set an audible alarm on your cellphone for 10 or 15 minutes from the time you enter Mr. Talky Pants' office. Before engaging in conversation, say, "I've got to get back to my desk in a couple of minutes, but I wanted to say a quick hello." He will talk past that time, but then when your alarm buzzes, you will both have a tangible reminder that it's time for you to make a clean getaway.
Dear Amy: You are way off responding to "Loving and Blessed!"
Even though this step-grandmother has been on the scene since the birth of the writer's children, she is certainly NOT entitled to grandma status!
She may have another respectful title, but "grandma" is not appropriate! Look up the definition!
Obviously, you are not a grandmother!
-- Dismayed
Dear Dismayed: I am a mother, a stepmother and a grandmother. There should be room in any child's life for a wide variety of loving family members.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
