An Agony Aunt on Etiquette

Amy is acquiring her vocabulary somewhere! From you? School? Playmates? Check around and I suggest you begin in your own home. Blasphemy and vulgarity are habit forming and perhaps such words slip from your own lips unconsciously.

Dear Mrs. Tobin:

Our 9-year-old daughter's language would stop the devil in his tracks. Punishing her doesn't make a bit of difference. We are often embarrassed by her mouth. Any suggestions? —Amy's Parents

Dear Parents:

Amy is acquiring her vocabulary somewhere! From you? School? Playmates? Check around and I suggest you begin in your own home. Blasphemy and vulgarity are habit forming and perhaps such words slip from your own lips unconsciously.

Dear Mrs. Tobin:

We called friends last Monday night and invited them for dessert and bridge. They turned us down because of the stupid baseball game. We think they were rude. Do you? —No Fan

Dear No Fan:

You think the Monday night baseball game is stupid. They think the same about Monday night dessert and bridge. Pick one of the six remaining nights in the week to get together.

Dear Mrs. Tobin:

The doctors just told me my husband has a terminal illness. While we don't expect a miracle we haven't given up, nor am I ready to tell our friends just how ill he is. What should I say when friends bore in for an answer? I'm sure they mean well. —Claire D.

Dear Claire D.:

Say, “The doctors are treating him and we all hope for a steady improvement.” Then ask about THEM! —By Riv Tobin, Copley News Service, 1975

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