Dear Blake,
We have out-of-state friends who have two daughters, ages 10 and 11. More than once I have seen the mother give her girls sips of her wine — even hard liquor — when she is drinking. We do not allow our children to do this. We have discussed drinking in moderation with them, but only when they are of legal age.
My problem is, this friend and her family will soon be coming here to visit. She has now informed me that she’ll be bringing a bottle of wine for her girls to drink. When I asked her not to because I’m not comfortable with it and my kids aren’t allowed to do so, she started arguing that mine don’t have to. Then she said that she wouldn’t bring a bottle for her girls, but would let them have some of hers. She argues that this is common in Europe. This situation has me uncomfortable. Am I being unreasonable?
Signed, Alice
From Norfolk, Virginia
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Dear Alice,
No, I do not think you are unreasonable. But if she wants to rationalize her behavior with “it’s done somewhere else”, you should do the exact same thing, but in the most extreme shocking manner that will make her reflect on her own stupidity. Here are some suggestions. When her family arrives, don’t let them come in your house, but instead have some large empty boxes in your backyard they can stay in, and tell her this is how it’s done in tent cities. Or, point a gun at her on her last day, robbing her everything that can be pawned, and tell her this is how they do it in Chicago. Or this idea. Feed her and her family out of dog dishes on the floor, and tell her this is how it’s done at rescue centers. And this last idea is my favorite. If she walks into your house carrying some wine, grab her and slam her head into the wall, and tell her this is how it’s done in professional wrestling… and in her case there won’t be any “fake” blood. I hope this helps.
Blake