DEAR ABBY: My daughter, "Kim," is in grade school. She's an only child, and ever since she was little, I have invited kids over so she'd have someone to play with. Most of their parents promise they'll have Kim over for a play-date at their house "soon," but soon never seems to come.
Kim is nice to her classmates and well-behaved in school. Her friends' parents always tell me what a great time their kids have at our house.
Kim never says anything about not being invited to the homes of other children, but I'm starting to feel like a free baby-sitting service.
What should I do the next time a parent says, "Let's get the kids to play together over vacation or the weekend"? -- EVERYONE'S BABY SITTER
DEAR BABY SITTER: Say this: "That's a wonderful idea. Can we do it at your house? I have some things I have to take care of at that time, and your supervising the children would really help me out."