Hi Annie...

This is in response to Wincing in Wisconsin rearding the brothers wife who is wearing the short shorts. Perhaps she could take a picture of her brother and sister in law while she is wearing the shorts and then give her a copy. This might be the eye opener she needs!! I recall looking at a picture of myself wearing something that I didn't think looked bad on me, even when looking in the mirror. Well, when I saw that picture, the first thing I did was get that piece of clothing and put it in the Goodwill bag. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

John is already threatening you with your own "insecurity." He will be cheating and telling you you're crazy. He is enjoying the attentions of a needy woman, and will probably enjoy more than that. God, I sound cynical! Then again, been there, done that.

Dear Annie, The concerned aunt is just beginning to see the red warning flags of neglect in her home schooled neice. "Butt out" most likely will not be the best option for the child since home schooled children frequently have a parent with social, mental, or emotional problems that they project to their own children by keeping them out of school to "protect them." As an aunt who missed the early warning signs I have watched my "very bright" neice go from an outgoing only child with tons of promise to a reclusive, obnocious tryant who demands that her mother wait on her literally hand and foot. She does not practice basic hygiene and refuses to do anything for herself. This is after 3 years of "home schooling" originally set up by my supposedly super intelligent sister(who formerly taught school briefly herself). The schooling rapidly deteriorated into sessions of mom preparing the projects to report to school authorities(who were duly impressed). My neice has managed to pass all the year-end test due to her early schooling and inherent intelligence but there is no learning taking place. Due to pressure from family my sister has finally put my neice back in school on a part time basis and we can only hope that it is not too late for her to catch up to her peers and learn the basic skills needed to live a happy and productive life. Please do not suggest that family members look the other way on suspicious home-school situations. - Aunt who's been there