ArcaMax

Let's say that safety is not a concerning factor here (you seem to feel it is a safe solo commute). Without asking your son first, the message you sent was, "You're not in charge of your commute anymore. Eddie Haskell's mother is."

Now Wally is pushing back.

You think it might be a good idea to invent a lie in order to get your son out of the arrangement that you cooked up in the first place. Talk about helicoptering!

Stop. Back away. Tell your son, "If you don't want to ride with Eddie, then don't ride with him. It's up to you." Then tell Eddie's Mom, "We shouldn't have interfered. Wally wants to ride by himself in the morning."

I think there is some likelihood that these two boys, after a period of adjustment, will probably end up parallel commuting very peacefully.

Then all of you parents should congratulate yourselves. You've given your sons some common ground: Now they can quite appropriately complain about you.

Dear Amy: I have been married to my husband for 30 years.

We have maintained a relationship with one of his brothers and his wife, but rarely see them, because they have always lived far away.

The wife has never been nice to me. She says rude things. She talks about how fat everyone is -- she's very thin, and never eats other than a few vegetables now and then (she does, however, like to drink plenty of wine).

I'm not a small person, and some of her remarks are hurtful. She seems to think she is better than everyone. In reality, she's pushy and difficult to be around.

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