DEAR ABBY: How do I get my dad to stop making uncalled-for comments? I'm 13, and I'm ready to stop inviting my friends over. My father always seems to say the worst possible thing.
For example, my friend "Amanda" was over one day. She has low self-esteem and body image problems. She was complaining to me about how curly her hair gets after she swims. I reassured her that it wasn't that bad, but then Dad came in and said, "Whoa! What's that? Your hair looks like something out of the 1980s!"
I replied, "Dad, could you please be quiet?" and he glared at me and continued. He often asks my friends if they're married yet, as a joke, and can't take a hint when he's the only one laughing. More than one of my friends have said they feel uncomfortable around him or just don't like him.
If I try to bring it up, Dad reminds me that back in my fifth-grade class everyone liked him. That was three years ago, and I have grown up and so have my friends. How do I teach Dad to take a hint? -- MORTIFIED IN FLORIDA
DEAR MORTIFIED: You don't. Because he won't accept hearing it from you, it's better he get the message from another adult that his attempts at humor are in poor taste and not funny. Talk to your mother or another adult female relative and tell her what your father is doing. If he keeps it up, you won't have to worry about not inviting friends to your house because they won't want to come over and be embarrassed.