DEAR ABBY: A good friend and I are having a disagreement. My 17-year-old son has a 16-year-old girlfriend. I know they are sexually active.
I spoke to my son and asked if she's on the pill. He said her mom refuses to put her on the pill. I gave my son $10, had a long talk about unwanted pregnancy, and told him to buy a box of condoms every few weeks and bring me the receipt so I know the money is being spent on condoms.
My problem is, my friend disagrees with me about what I did. She accused me of encouraging them. If I had a daughter, I'd buy the pill for her, so why not pay for condoms for my son? Who is right and who is wrong here? -- MISSOURI MOM
DEAR MISSOURI MOM: The girl's mother may think that by not providing her sexually active daughter with birth control, she is discouraging her from having sex. Clearly that hasn't happened. Of course you are right to make sure your son doesn't impregnate his girlfriend. Neither one of them is ready for the financial and emotional responsibility of a child.
Something I'm unclear about is why your friend is trying to guilt you out of it, when she should be minding her own business. Please tell her I said so.