Dear Amy: I am a 16-year-old with a great and supportive family. My twin brother and I are home-schooled by our mother. Recently, one of my good friends and her mother came over to visit.
My friend and I were looking at some websites for a game we enjoy playing. She began to show me some of the music she listens to and some of the videos that go with the music. I did not like the music or the videos.
For one, they scared me. I found them dark. The songs included cussing, which I feel ruins a song.
I could not figure out how to say that I would really rather not listen to (or watch) those things. Shes the type of person who gets angry and upset if you disagree with her. She said her mother had no idea she was listening to this stuff. I began to feel literally sick to my stomach.
How can I tell her I dont want her going on these websites on my computer? I really want to tell her mom what she is up to, but I dont want this to end our friendship.
I am very worried and dont want my friend going down the wrong path. I told my mom and dad about what happened, and my mom thinks that maybe I should tell my friends mom, but Im not sure.
WORRIED ABOUT WEBSITES
Dear Worried: If your own values dont give you the strength to speak your own truth or if youre simply too dominated or shy then your parents can help give you cover to work around peer pressure.
In the moment, you could have said, My parents will go ballistic if they find these sites on my computer, so you need to stop.
I suspect that your friend finds this material appealing because it is a way for her to rebel against her folks, your folks and people who share your specific values. If you or your parents feel that this material is dangerous for her, then your parents should speak with her parents.
Dear Amy: Our daughters fiance is charming, intelligent, thoughtful and has dreadful table manners.
Hes Asian, so we think its a cultural thing. He spends the meal slurping, with his face and body almost in the plate, in the trough position with open-mouth chewing and lots of noise. We wonder if this is considered appropriate or appreciative in his home culture.
Hes lived in the U.S. for quite a few years, but I dont think he recognizes whats going on.
My husband wants to talk to him about this, but I dont want to offend him. I dont think we can ask our daughter to talk to him, either. I keep hoping hell notice how we eat, as we share meals together often, but its been months now.
Any thoughts?
FUTURE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Dear Future: Theres nothing cultural about your future son-in-laws dreadful table manners that Im aware of. He simply has dreadful table manners.
This is an issue best broached by your daughter. Whats needed is merely a gentle correction. It should be expressed to him that better table manners will likely benefit his other personal and professional encounters, which is a good thing. If he changes, mealtime should become more palatable for you and for everyone else.
Dear Amy: Querying Mom was very upset because her children were excluded from a family wedding, and when she and her husband attended the wedding they saw other children there.
These other families may have completely disregarded the no kids admonition on the wedding invitation. I was shocked at our wedding to see how many families completely ignored our suggestion that they get sitters for their children for that day.
BEEN THERE
Dear Been There: You are correct; some parents seem to believe that the no kids rule applies to everybody else. Thank you.
askamy@tribune.com




