DEAR ABBY: What is the polite way to correct a child who is being rude in your home while her mother, who is present, does absolutely nothing? -- DISCIPLINARIAN IN TRACY, CALIF.
DEAR DISCIPLINARIAN: Here's how I'd handle it. I would get down to the child's eye level and say: "Honey, I have certain rules in my house. When you're here, I expect you to ( ). Do you understand?"
You cannot expect a child who may not have been taught basic manners by his (or her) mother to know what you expect unless you spell it out sweetly and firmly. And if the bad behavior persists, I would socialize with the child's mother only one-on-one.