Life Advice

/

Health

Ask Amy: Gay servicemember worries about family bond

By Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

When you feel free to live your own life -- openly, joyfully, and authentically -- you will be truly liberated. Forgiveness and acceptance (of them and their limitations) will flow from that. Any ongoing relationship with your folks will be contingent on their own growth.

Dear Amy: I recently introduced my kids (ages 5, 7, 9, and 12) to backyard kickball.

One afternoon, my 7-year-old accidently kicked the ball over our neighbor's fence. My kids went over to get the ball and our middle-age neighbor stood there in his ratty bathrobe and sprayed my children with his hose!

My 5-year-old came into the house crying -- and soaked. When I asked the kids what had happened, they explained how he would not give them their ball back, so I went over to his house and politely asked for it.

He sprayed me in the face with the hose and said my kids are NOT allowed to play kickball anywhere near his yard and then ever so rudely gave me the ball back.

In order not to anger him again, I told my kids to kick the ball the other way, but the neighbor does not appreciate that either. Now, he will stand by the fence and spray my kids!

 

I am worried because we have a rather nice relationship with my other neighbors, but I do not want to tell my kids they can't play kickball because our crabby neighbor does not want the kickball in his grass.

Any suggestions?

-- Soaked

Dear Soaked: You describe your neighbor as "crabby," which seems like an extremely generous description. To me, he sounds volatile and potentially violent. Your kids should do everything possible to steer clear.

...continued

swipe to next page

 

 

Comics

Loose Parts Dave Whamond Dustin Jeff Danziger Get Fuzzy Ed Gamble