A gay couple's son-in-law has refused to let them stay overnight at his home, citing that he doesn't want to have to explain why they sleep together in the same bed to his daughters, who are aged 6 and 8. The couple, feeling uncomfortable around their son-in-law, decided not to attend this year's visit and instead opted for alternative accommodations, but ultimately declined another invitation from their daughter to spend time with them and her children.
Dear Abby suggests that punishing the family is not the solution, as it may lead to a strained relationship between the couple and their grandchildren. Instead, she recommends fostering a positive connection with all members of the family, including the son-in-law's daughters, in the hopes that he will become increasingly marginalized by his own narrow-minded views.
In another letter, a man is struggling to discuss his desire for his new partner to lose weight with him without being perceived as insensitive or judgmental. Dear Abby advises approaching the conversation in a more subtle manner, such as modeling healthy habits and encouraging the person to make positive changes, rather than directly commenting on their appearance.
A group of friends who gather for dinner are uncomfortable with a new member's tendency to pray aloud and hold hands during meals. Dear Abby suggests addressing this privately with the woman, explaining that not everyone in the group is comfortable displaying religiosity publicly, and reminding her that silent prayer can be just as effective.
Dear Abby suggests that punishing the family is not the solution, as it may lead to a strained relationship between the couple and their grandchildren. Instead, she recommends fostering a positive connection with all members of the family, including the son-in-law's daughters, in the hopes that he will become increasingly marginalized by his own narrow-minded views.
In another letter, a man is struggling to discuss his desire for his new partner to lose weight with him without being perceived as insensitive or judgmental. Dear Abby advises approaching the conversation in a more subtle manner, such as modeling healthy habits and encouraging the person to make positive changes, rather than directly commenting on their appearance.
A group of friends who gather for dinner are uncomfortable with a new member's tendency to pray aloud and hold hands during meals. Dear Abby suggests addressing this privately with the woman, explaining that not everyone in the group is comfortable displaying religiosity publicly, and reminding her that silent prayer can be just as effective.
. Can't we all just get along? This gay couple is already dealing with so much negativity from their son-in-law's behavior. I feel bad for them, especially since they're not even able to spend time with their grandkids because of it 
. It's like, can't he just be more accepting and open-minded? 
. Maybe he should try having a heart-to-heart with him and being honest about his own struggles too? That might help them bond over something real 
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I mean, who wants to feel uncomfortable at someone else's dinner party because of their religiosity? Just have an awkward convo and move on, you know? 
- what's next, he won't let them use his bathroom because they're gay? 
It's not about forcing anyone to do something uncomfortable, it's about being considerate of those around him. And what's wrong with having an open and honest conversation about health and wellness? No one likes a nag, but this is different - it's about supporting each other in making positive changes 
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If he's not comfortable around his aunt and uncle, maybe he should just chill at home with his daughter 
. Dear Abby is right on this one - we need more empathy and understanding in our communities, not judgment and exclusion 
It's all about boundaries and respect for others' differences. If someone wants to pray silently during meals, that's their prerogative. Let's just agree to disagree and move on 
. This is where tolerance and understanding come in - not punishing people for being themselves 
.
, but sometimes it's better to let people figure out their own opinions rather than imposing yours 
".
what a bunch of people being super uncomfortable about their own business... like, if someone's house is your friend's home for the night, you gotta deal with it, right? 
He's not trying to impose his views on anyone or make them feel uncomfortable. The parents are overreacting because they're used to having everything their way, and now someone's breaking the mold 
. Instead of apologizing for who he loves, the couple should be calling out this guy for being a jerk 
. And what's up with the other family members just sitting back and letting him get away with this? Shouldn't they be standing up for their loved ones? This is exactly why we need more open-minded people like him, not less 
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Meanwhile, I totally get it about the weight conversation - it's super delicate. But can we really just 'model healthy habits' without addressing the elephant in the room? It feels like they're avoiding the real issue... And what's up with this dinner prayer thing? Is it even a problem if she just asks politely if everyone is cool with it beforehand? 
Anyway, the whole situation sounds kinda awkward for everyone involved. I'd rather focus on building bridges than 'making someone feel marginalized'... 
it can shape their entire perspective on life 
and just because someone is a bit uncomfortable with the couple's lifestyle doesn't mean they have to be outright homophobic or rude about it 
anyway lets focus on spreading love & positivity instead of judgment 
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. Maybe if he explained himself to his own kids, they could have an adult conversation about why he's so uncomfortable 
Like, hello! A 6-year-old shouldn't be made to feel like she's gonna get judged for who she loves. That's some messed up stuff right there 
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. They're taking care of themselves and setting boundaries, which is totally okay 
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. But if we can learn to appreciate and respect each other's weirdness, life is way more fun 
!
... I mean, what's wrong with being open about who you love? A family should accept their partner for who they are 
. It's not cool that the couple had to resort to alternative accommodations 
... I'd want my loved ones to be comfortable at my place too 
. Newsflash: you're an adult, and if you can't handle explaining why your parents sleep together to their 6- and 8-year-old cousins, that's on you, not the couple. And what's with this "not wanting to marginalize" the son-in-law? That's just a fancy way of saying he doesn't want to confront his own biases 
. It's just a shame that some people still can't put themselves in others' shoes 
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. And poor grandma and grandpa, feeling all cruddy about not being invited over...