DEAR ABBY: My dilemma is how to deal with rude, obnoxious children whose parents allow them to get away with bad behavior. In my home, I have learned to tactfully tell the kids, "We don't jump on couches, bang on pianos or turn the TV on and off." However, what do I do when visiting a parent whose 8-year-old constantly butts into the conversation and tells the parent and me to be quiet? Of course, the parent stops the conversation and gives in to the child! Do I just suffer through this annoyance, or is there something I can say or do? -- TIRED OF BAD BEHAVIOR IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR TIRED: You can suffer through the annoyance and grit your teeth, or socialize with the parent while the child is in school or involved in some other activity. Or, schedule your visit away from the parent's home and when the child is with a sitter. As a last resort, manage to see less of the parent until the child becomes a teenager and is no longer constantly underfoot and competing for attention. But do not criticize a child's behavior in the home of his or her parent.