Punishment doesn’t fit boy’s crime

Dear Abby: When I stopped by my brother’s house a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned that his 9-yearold son was grounded in his bedroom. He was being punished for snooping in his dad’s vintage collection of porn.

At first I was upset with my brother and his wife, because it was their fault that the boy had access to it, and boys are curious. But their “brilliant” idea was to make my nephew disgusted with porn by forcing him to look at the entire collection for three hours. I was so appalled, I overstepped; I went straight into my nephew’s room and told him he was allowed to go play. Abby, what do you think? What should I have done?

Appalled in Ohio

Dear Appalled: The child’s punishment was extreme and inappropriate. What you SHOULD have done was point out to your brother and sister-in-law that their punishment may have been counterproductive. Rather than working as aversion therapy, it could result in whetting their son’s appetite for more. You might also have suggested they consult a child psychologist for suggestions on how to deal with their son’s budding sexual curiosity, which is normal. Dear Abby: I recently met a very nice woman online. During our first phone call, she told me about an injury she received a few months ago that has left her with a disability. I’m not bothered by it, and I’d like to get to know her better.

From the way she responded to a few things, I got the impression that she is still coming to terms with what has happened, as anyone would be. I have no idea if, from the perspective of dating, it is the right thing to engage someone who is going through this. Any thoughts?

Tentative in Indiana

Dear Tentative: Yes, it’s the right thing — but only if you can be supportive and patient during what has to be an extremely emotionally disruptive time in this woman’s life. I am sure she could use a supportive male friend right now, as long as you two can continue to have an open and honest dialogue with each other.

Dear Abby: My 30-year-old son lives with me, and I love him dearly. My only problem with him is he wears the same pair of pants for weeks without washing them and hasn’t washed his sheets in months.

He owns only one pair of pants, and I can’t get him to buy another pair. How can I get him to change his ways?

Fed-Up Mother in Texas

Dear Fed Up: The easiest solution to your problem might be for you to wash his bedding every few weeks. As to the fact that he has only one pair of pants, buy him a pair for his next birthday or for Christmas.

Write to Dear Abby at P.O. Box 96440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or dearabby.com