DEAR ABBY: What do you think of taking young children into a prison to visit an uncle? The kids are 3, 4 and 6 and endure a 12-hour car ride each way. I stay out of it and haven't said a word to the parents, but I don't think this is the smartest idea. -- CARING BYSTANDER
DEAR BYSTANDER: You don't say how often these visits happen, but if it's often, it seems to me that a 12-hour drive (each way) would be very hard on small children. If you are a friend or relative and live nearby, I'm sure it would be appreciated if you volunteered to watch the kids while the parents make the drive. Have you considered it?