Doctor needs to learn manners.
Dear Abby: I recently took my 5-year-old to his pediatrician. While we were waiting to see the doctor, Ralphie played a game on my phone. Then the doctor knocked on the door, entered, said “hi” and smiled. He called my son’s name and immediately, without any prompts to get Ralphie’s attention, proceeded to take the phone from my son.
You don’t simply take things from people’s hands to get their attention. Ralphie may be a child, but he also is a person. I would feel different if, after the doctor had tried to get his attention, my son had ignored him.
How do I tell the doctor that I find what he did unacceptable without risking the relationship? I understand there are ways to say things, I simply do not possess those skills. My emotions are so strong that I can’t find a way of being assertive without saying something rude. Dear Laura: Ideally, you should have asked your son to return your cellphone when you heard the doctor enter. Write him a letter and tell him you were “taken aback” that he would take something from your boy without asking because what happened seemed to you to be disrespectful. Put the letter aside for three days before sending it to be sure your message wasn’t written in the heat of anger. You are entitled to express your opinion. And if the doctor’s “brusque” manner is off-putting, find another pediatrician.
Dear Abby:
I am a 17-year-old girl and I have a job as a barista. I have an uncle who keeps asking to borrow money from me. He always promises he will pay me back, but he was in prison and he’s struggling to find a job. He never does repay me, which wouldn’t bother me if it were small amounts, but I’m trying to save for a car and college, and he always asks for amounts over $50.
Several adults are telling me he takes advantage of me. I don’t know if I should continue to loan him money or tell him no. If I have to refuse him, it will be hard because I have a hard time saying no to others.
I don’t know what to do anymore. Any advice would be great. Dear P2P:
You are a sweet and generous girl, but you are allowing yourself to be taken advantage of. Part of growing up is learning to stand up for yourself. The next time your uncle asks you for money, tell him that you’ll consider loaning him more after he has repaid you the money he has already borrowed. To do that isn’t “mean.” It is intelligent.
DearAbby.com Dear Abby P.O. Box 69440 Los Angeles, CA 90069 Universal Press Syndicate