Expensive Amy: My daughter and granddaughter are coming to spend 10 days with us over the Christmas holidays.
I’m dreading the go to as a result of my 3-year-old granddaughter is unable to be round others with out being the focus!
If adults attempt to have a dialog she interrupts repeatedly, and if she has nothing to truly say, she simply makes loud noises.
It’s past irritating.
I attempt to not intervene with my daughter’s parenting, however I’m unsure methods to survive 10 days of this, when even temporary telephone calls with the 2 of them make me loopy.
Any recommendation?
– Unhappy Grandma
Expensive Unhappy: This can be very widespread for 3-year-old youngsters to need to dominate their main mother or father’s consideration.
Youngsters study not to do that by a mix of repeated reminders and distractions: “The adults are talking to one another. You might be interrupting. When you have one thing to say, you might want to wait your flip.”
You may also ask a 3-year-old to do a “job” for you, folding dish cloths or towels on the ground, sorting picket spoons into completely different packing containers, stacking blocks, or placing their favourite toy “to mattress” in a shoebox.
Ten days is a protracted go to; the vacations are extremely charged and exhausting for kids and their dad and mom, and you need to depend on having your daughter’s full consideration solely throughout your granddaughter’s afternoon nap time and after she is asleep at night time.
You wouldn’t dread this go to a lot in case you reframed your orientation: This won’t be a mother-daughter go to between you and your daughter, however a Christmastime go to together with your granddaughter.
I hope you will see that methods to bond with this little woman that may make this go to memorable for each of you.
Mild corrections, reminders, and actions will assist the kid.
Stress-free your expectations will enable you.
Expensive Amy: My long-time pal “Charlotte” and I’ve been touring overseas collectively for the previous a number of years.
We’re each introverts and get alongside nicely on our journeys as we respect each other’s house and the necessity for quiet.
We keep away from the bustle of cities and vacationer traps to spend our time mountain climbing and in solitary reflection open air. We treasure these annual getaways as a possibility to clear our heads and restore our artistic vitality.
One other pal desires to hitch us this 12 months. She might be crushed if we don’t embody her.
The issue is that her chatter by no means stops. I imply by no means.
We love her dearly however max out after a pair hours collectively.
If she joins us, we really feel that we are going to be mentally depleted by our journey somewhat than rejuvenated. It can defeat the entire goal.
How do you suppose we should always deal with this?
– Tripped Up
Expensive Tripped Up: You need to deal with this rapidly, calmly and politely, by telling “Charlotte,” “We’ve been doing this annual journey the identical manner for a few years and depend on having this quiet expertise of mutual solitude. Our time away may be very quiet and many individuals may discover it boring, however that is how we do it. This is able to not work if one other particular person joined us – whether or not it was you or another person. Please perceive that this isn’t private.”
Expensive Amy: “Confused Mom-of-the-Bride” requested about tipping a gross sales affiliate for the acquisition of a bridal robe.
I personal a bridal retailer. Our retailer, as most do, provides the bride an choice to tip the stylist on the time of checkout.
This can be a service-based trade. We certainly not push the shopper to tip the stylist.
Over the previous few years, it has develop into extra customary for the stylist to obtain a tip. Many do nonetheless obtain a fee.
As a server who receives a tip for good service, so ought to a very good stylist.
We offer a novel, memorable expertise for our brides.
Did you attain out to any bridal shops earlier than answering that query?
– Bridal Retailer House owners
Expensive House owners: I did not attain out to bridal shops, however I did analysis current bridal tendencies through a well-liked wedding ceremony web site, and the consensus amongst brides was that tipping for a robe buy shouldn’t be obligatory.
My idea is that the tipping possibility that gained power through the pandemic is now included in gross sales software program, so it routinely pops up when a sale is accomplished.
There are different distinctive, memorable, and vital purchases: as an illustration, shopping for a primary automotive or residence. Ought to these gross sales individuals additionally obtain a tip?
I imagine our tradition of tipping has gone a little bit haywire.
(You possibly can e-mail Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or ship a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Field 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You may also observe her on Twitter @askingamy or Fb.)