when my parents have visited me, I have definitely taken advantage of the free babysitting to go out, party like I was still in my 20s, and come home drunk. I have done this with my husband and, once when he was out of town, with a single girlfriend. I don't consider myself to have behavior, marriage, or alcohol problems. I just very much appreciated the opportunity to have my mom assume my responsibilities for a few hours, and she never told me she had any problem with this. Hmmmm.... perhaps I should have checked Dear Prudence more carefully ater those visits! Just kidding. The rest of the time my parents were visiting were spent together with them engaged in more wholesome activities, so perhaps this is the difference. I just personally didn't read this woman's account and come to the same conclusion that her daughter has any problems other than needing a break from parenting, which seems pretty normal in my book.

Is the cost of hiring a babysitter so exorbitantly high that you need to wait until your parents visit before you can afford to go out ?

You need to get a better job, or if you are jobless, you need to get a job.

Or an additional job.

Or a better job.

I’ve heard stripping pays good tips.

Nah - parents visiting is just a good excuse. I feel more comfortable with them watching my kid than anyone else, really. You can't buy grandparent-style love! (Although if you could, I could personally afford it ;)

You're right, you know. I bet as soon as i turn my back, the babysitter's stuffing a crack pipe in my daughter's face, or, worse, letting her watch Bratz. 

 

 

Do consider the stripping though.

 

My new version of Opera is totally fucking with my formatting, man.

Seriously - if that "slut" comment wasn't in the letter would anyone get so worked up about it? It even seems out of place in the letter. I bet Prudie slipped it in there because it would be so straight forward (and boring) without it.

Replace the slut comment with one saying the daughter was being a first class bitch and there we go, debate over.

For me, the issue was Prudie's assertion that the daughter must have a behavior, marriage, or alcohol problem. She must have edited out the part of the letter that makes that clear. I don't see it.

she just needs to get her interns to write better letters.

See, I've gotten to the point where I really don't even read Prudie's answer. I read the letters and get straight to the Fray.

danam:

See, I've gotten to the point where I really don't even read Prudie's answer. I read the letters and get straight to the Fray.

Yeah, but you're denying yourself the pleasure of making fun of both the letters and the advice. I like to take full advantage of the column.

I generally like Prudie's answers, even if she is usually more diplomatic than I would be, but this time, I'm thinking that she needs to get out and drink more, so that she won't be quite so judgmental next time. I would think she'd be a bit more accepting, considering her recent experience as a drag king.

Drag kings and sluts need love too.