DEAR ABBY: My son's birthday is coming soon. I want to invite his Scout troop and some of his schoolmates. The problem is "Matt." Matt is a horrible child who is in both Scouts and school. I know he'll destroy the party, but how can I invite everyone else and not him? His parents are lazy and overindulgent and can't seem to make him understand that there are rules of conduct. -- PERPLEXED MOM IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS
DEAR PERPLEXED: Do not invite all but one child to your son's party. If Matt acts up, take him aside and tell him exactly what you expect from him while he is with you -- and that if he can't behave appropriately he will be sent home. You may be surprised to find that when he hears it from you -- rather than from his ineffectual parents -- that he will listen and comply.