Ask Amy: Grandparents treated like toddlers, act like teens
My brother has also put me in a tough spot. He doesn’t want me to tell my father anything about his health problems, which he says is the reason he and his wife haven’t paid Dad back.
I’ve asked my brother to please talk to Dad. They are both very stubborn.
I know my father will be upset with me for not telling him about my brother’s health.
What should I do?
— In the Middle
Dear Middle: In theory, I completely agree with your stance, but you are also stubbornly sticking to your guns, when you might be able to offer a pathway out.
Tell your brother, “Sorry. I can’t keep this secret for you. It has put me in a terrible position, and now it is affecting my relationship with both you and Dad.”
The next time you are with your dad, call your brother from your phone, and after he answers, hand it to your dad, saying, “Here. You two need to catch up.”
Dear Amy: We just adopted our first family dog and we've been having difficulty teaching our 8-year-old son how to interact with the dog gently. His desire to hug and kiss the dog is sometimes met with a growl.
Based on your recent advice, I played the stopthe77.com video for my son and it resonated for him in a way that our words did not.
He is now able to approach our dog with empathy.
— New Dog Family
Dear Family: An estimated 77 percent of dog bites come from a family or friend’s dog. It turns out that, despite how much we love them, dogs do NOT like to be hugged.
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2020 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
