Life Advice

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Health

Adult kids' fights always involve the folks

By Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

You have the right and responsibility to establish and enforce basic boundaries regarding behavior exhibited at your home. It's your home. Your adult offspring are not bickering adolescents, but guests.

Your son's beliefs don't matter one whit while he is at your table. His behavior does matter.

These two siblings may forever be an oil-and-water mix. They will both have to learn that, while in your home, aside from garden-variety disagreements, certain obnoxious behavior will not be tolerated.

You and your husband should exit from all texting fights.

You should also prepare yourself for responding to the next in-person outburst.

I suggest a simple and firm: "Nope. We're not doing this. Stop it, please" with no further personal engagement.

 

Otherwise, you should treat your son the way you would any other belligerent home invader, and either ask him to leave -- or you leave.

It's his turn to ruminate on and lose sleep over his behavior. As a psychologist, he should possess the insight and the tools to change.

Dear Amy: How do you move forward when your life has amounted to mostly regret and disappointment?

I have a landmark birthday coming up and have been reflecting on my life. I don't feel like celebrating much.

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