DEAR ABBY: My stepdaughter, age 18, has recently begun to send her father text messages while we are in the same room, rather than speak to him. It's as if she doesn't want me in on the conversation. I find her behavior rude.
If they need to speak privately, so be it -- she can wait until I'm out of the room or request to speak to him elsewhere. But I find it impolite of her to send him texts. They are nothing confidential in nature, just general conversation.
What are your thoughts on this? -- BYSTANDER IN NEW YORK
DEAR BYSTANDER: What your stepdaughter is doing is as rude as when two people whisper to each other in front of a third person. My thought is that your husband, out of consideration for your feelings, should either tell her -- or text her -- to cut it out.