Childfree Abby - Entitlement Gone Wild!

21 March 2006

Message ID: 1220ms5qhqutc1@news.supernews.com


Dear Abby:

My nephew recently married a widow with two teenage sons. His wife insists that he should have "a child of his own" -- but through adoption. She does not intend to have any more children.

My sister has now informed all the members of our family that the adoption fee is $25,000 and that we will be expected to make a donation! I have never seen this matter addressed in your column. Please tell us what to do, and fast. Our family awaits your opinion.

-- Muddled in the Midwest

Dear Muddled:

You have never seen the matter addressed in my column because the premise is so original and outlandish that no one has sent it to me before. It is my opinion that if your nephew and his wife cannot come up with the money to finance the adoption, they should postpone it until they can. (Just what would your sister consider everyone's "fair share" of this project to be? And if you did buy into this joint venture, does that mean you would have a say in how the child is raised?)

There are too many questions that come to mind, and not enough answers. Tell your sister, "Nice try, though!"

DEAR ABBY
Jeanne Phillips
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/columnists/advice/chi-0602020508feb03,1,7694145.column?coll=chi-leisureadvice-col


Dear Muddled

Since you seem to be at a loss at how to answer your sister, please allow me to provide you with a template to do so. Feel free to alter any names/situations to suit:

          Dear Sis:

          Surely you remember Great Aunt Gertrude who carried a sceptre, rode in a
          carriage and insisted that she was Queen Victoria? And who could forget
          second cousin Leopold whose penchant for climbing up on the garden shed
          to bay at the full moon always brought a tear to my eye while the
          neighbours called the police?

          Until your letter arrived, I thought that the strain of insanity in our
          family had died out.

          You, my dear Sister, are absolutely barking mad if you think that anyone
          except that your dim-witted son and his equally idiotic wife should pony
          up for the expenses incurred with any proposed adoption.

          In short, Get Stuffed.

          Your loving Sister,
          Abby

Childfree Abby
The ChildFree Abby Archives - http://www.dismal-light.net/childfreeabby/