Snail mail brings cheer to all

Dear Annie: My young adult daughter recently had a milestone birthday, so I asked friends and family to send a birthday card to her. She received many cards. I was very grateful to the people who sent them.

She sent every one of the people she received a card from a thank-you note, saying how much the card meant to her. I feel like I raised my daughter right, with good manners.

So, just wanted to say: Send a card to someone you love. They will truly appreciate it. And if you receive a card, tell them thank you for thinking of you. Let’s support each other.

— Observation

Dear Observation: I love the idea of brightening someone’s day with a card. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is wasted.

Dear Annie: My oldest son and I always had a close relationship. I was a single parent since he was 11.

Once he married and had children, he became quite distant and overprotective of his children.

I hardly know his kids, and yet I am close and in frequent contact with my daughter and her family.

His girls are 1 and 5. I have only babysat the 5-year-old for two hours once at their home. He says he doesn’t trust that I will follow all his instructions to the letter with the kids.

What can I do to improve this and to understand? — Coping With a Changed Son

Dear Coping: You don’t know what is going on behind the closed doors of your son’s marriage. His lack of trust in your ability to follow his rules and instructions shows incredible rigidity.

Just continue to be kind and appreciate the time you do get to spend with them.