Little Margot sat primly at the table. The pink bow tied her long honey-colored ponytail, the perfect accent to the pink-on-white polka dot pinafore she wore. Margot’s hands were folded atop the table, and she listened intently as Miss Roz was giving first-day instructions to the new kindergarten class. It was a bright, hot August day outside, but the whir of the air conditioning fans overhead promised comfort in the classroom.
Dear Eric: My 35-year-old niece married a 45-year-old man with two teenage kids in a small ceremony. I have always been close with her. My sister and my niece have had a somewhat up-and-down relationship. They are each strong-willed.
Dear Eric: My husband and I have been married for 40 years. He has two adult sons in their 60s and I have an adult daughter in her 50s. Over the years we have helped one son, who has two children and my daughter, who has one child, while they were going through divorces with large sums of money in order for them to keep their houses. We have contributed to all three grandkids with college 529 funds.
Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5) is a lovely poem expressing God’s loving treatment of his people (the vineyard) and yet the vineyard produces wild grapes (sin and rebellion). The message becomes a prophecy of punishment for a people who have turned from God.*
Dear Eric: I have a tween age daughter (11) who used to be very sweet. Lately she has been very mouthy – always answers back and is rude, especially to me. I don’t know why she has changed so much. She has a younger brother and says I treat him better. I try to treat them the same. Any advice on how to handle this situation as I feel it’s only going to get worse?
Dear Eric: I’m 81 years old and my husband is 84. We were comfortably retired until our 44-year-old daughter and 9-year-old granddaughter moved in with us a few weeks ago. Our daughter was evicted from her condo because her ex-husband stopped paying. (I don’t blame him.)
Dear Eric: My good friend has been with her boyfriend for more than 20 years. She finally moved into his house after her mom died a year and a half ago. They attend each other’s family events – weddings, funerals, birthdays, sports events, work parties – and he tells her he loves her.
Dear Eric: My husband sings at the top of his lungs to any song that is playing in a movie or a commercial or in the car or otherwise. It’s like nails on a chalkboard for me. I’ve tried telling him, but he takes offense. He tells me everyone tells him he has perfect pitch (he doesn’t), and it has come down to serious discord at times.
Dear Eric: How do you recommend dealing with a friend who often offers assistance but never follows through? By the way, cognitive or memory issues do not impact any other situations, and the offer does appear to be genuine.