DEAR ABBY: I Have Two Adult Sons Living at Home, Ages 22 and 24

Read the text and answer the questions below. Some vocabulary has been explained for you.

DEAR ABBY: I have two adult sons living at home, ages 22 and 24. Both are working. I have recently retired, and my income has become half of what it was before. I told my sons that if they are to continue living here, they must pay room and board of $30 a week or find a Rent and food place to live with the amenities they have here. Extras, comforts They are now ranting and raving and calling me a bad mother. Am I being unreasonable? I feel I have provided my sons with a good life, and it is now time for them to take some responsibility for their own support. It's time to grow up. Am I wrong? Loan to buy a house My oldest son says he refuses to help me pay my mortgage! I told him to either pay the $120 a month or try to find a cheaper place to live. Any thoughts on this? -- STRESSED-OUT MOM, LAKE VIEW, N.Y.

1. In one or two sentences, describe the problem that the letter writer has.

2. Think about the values and attitudes that the parent and child have, based on the letter. How do they see each other? What is the conflict or difference in values? Make a guess based on the text. Parent’s Values Child’s Values From the parent’s perspective

From the child’s perspective

3. What advice would you give them if you were a) a friend of the parent

b) a friend of the child Read the text and answer the questions below. Some vocabulary has been explained for you. DEAR ABBY: My 25-year-old son, "Mark," lives at home, has a full-time job and dates a girl, "Julia," who is a minister's daughter. He Religious leader keeps bringing her to our home on occasions when she's "sick" or needs to catch an early flight and he needs to drive her to the airport. or priest in a They are seeing only each other. Protestant church

Julia is in pre-med and Mark thinks she's wonderful and smart. Abby, when she's here, she holes up in his room and never comes out. Undergraduate in medicine She's as quiet as a mouse. I am boisterous, and I get the feeling I turn her off. Hides Noisy, outgoing The last time she stayed over was before an out-of-state interview Mark was driving her to. Abby, she never even said hello or goodbye. He made her breakfast in bed, and they sat there laughing and eating with the door shut.

When she visits she stays down in our den and ignores the rest of us the entire time, as does Mark. After the holidays, she left without wishing us "Happy Holidays" or even giving us a card. I had a present for her, but didn't give it to her because I decided I wouldn't go out Family room, TV of my way for a person who ignores me. room

I want my son to move out. I do not want this girl sleeping over or staying under my roof anymore. I don't like her. What should I do? My Be strong, mother says I should put my foot down and send my grown son out the door. She says I need to grow a spine, but I'm afraid! -- MAMA IN decisive OHIO 1. In one or two sentences, describe the problem that the letter writer has.

3. What advice would you give them if you were a) a friend of the parent b) a friend of the child Read the text and answer the questions below. Some vocabulary has been explained for you.

DEAR ABBY: Our 23-year-old daughter, "Kristy," lives at home. She works full time and goes to school, but lives here with free Rent and food room and board, cable TV, etc. She has been seeing a man for a month and now is spending two or three nights a week at "his place."

I am not unreasonable or naive, but I feel that because Kristy is living under my roof, she should live by my rules, which do not Even worse include sleeping over at some man's house after only one month of dating. To top it off, we have never met him, although we have Not do something asked several times to be introduced.

We know that Kristy is an adult, but I believe that as an adult she should have enough respect for us to refrain from spending the night at his place until she knows him better and we have at least met him. Am I being unreasonable? Give up A person with a My wife throws up her hands and says, "What can we do?" I believe parenting does not end at 18. I am not a prude, but this seems negative attitude wrong to me. Any advice? -- DAD IN DISTRESS towards sex

b) a friend of the child Read the text and answer the questions below. Some vocabulary has been explained for you.

DEAR ABBY: My 27-year-old daughter and two grandsons (ages 5 and 6) moved in with me more than a year ago. "Lori" is a good mom, but it upsets me when I wake up at night and discover that she's not home. She will leave a note saying she's with this person or that and will be home by midnight or 1 a.m.

It infuriates me when she leaves the boys alone with me without informing me in advance. We argue constantly about this, but she Angers Make an official continues to do it. I am ready to call the police or to file a report with Child Protective Services. Lori says I am home anyway, so complaint what's the harm? Please help me with this. -- HOME ALONE WITH THE KIDS WHILE MOM'S OUT PARTYING

b) a friend of the child