DEAR ABBY: A female acquaintance recently asked me to submit a reference letter for her in order to help her in a custody battle with her ex-husband. She had problems with drugs and alcohol in the past, but has been sober for more than a year now. She wants the recommendation letter to reflect how much she has changed for the better.
I didn't know her a year ago and didn't witness the change. Also, from what little I have seen, her parenting skills are questionable at best. How do I proceed? Ignoring her request isn't an option because she has asked multiple times. -- ACQUAINTANCE IN GEORGIA
DEAR ACQUAINTANCE: Tell your acquaintance a version of what you have told me, that you're not comfortable writing the letter because you have known her only a relatively short time and haven't witnessed how far she has come. It's honest. (Do not mention that you think her parenting skills are lacking if you would like to maintain the relationship.)