DEAR ABBY: My two grown children ("Ted" and "Alice") love each other dearly but get into frequent tiffs. After the last one, they were not speaking. It was Ted's birthday and Alice was leaving town, so she asked me to give him a card she had chosen.
I knew this card wouldn't go over well. After Alice left, I went to the store and bought a card that I knew expressed how she really feels. I signed her name to it and threw out the other one. I don't think that either one of them will find out what I did.
When Ted opened the card, he was very touched. He really liked it. The card made him happy. Was I wrong to do what I did? -- MOTHER WHO CARES
DEAR MOTHER: Your letter tells me your children are grown, but your actions say otherwise. In this case, the end may have justified the means and your maneuver was relatively harmless. However, it is not your place to mediate between your adult children. Your behavior could easily backfire, so in the future, please resist the urge to meddle.