Go Ask Jo: 4/7/2021

Dear Jo,

Manners, I want to talk about manners. Does anyone have manners anymore? I find that I don’t even practice the kind of manners I was raised with. I see people have less reverence for our elderly, less respect for their parents, less understanding and care for those around them. I know that I am not alone in this belief. What can I do to make a change?

Signed, Make a Change

Dear Change,

“Be the change you want to see in the world”. I can’t find the initial source of the saying, but have seen it several times. It always hits home. We cannot change others, just ourselves. So…..head up, shoulders back, and start tackling this world wide problem one encounter at a time. Best of luck!

Signed, Jo

Dear Jo,

When is enough, enough?! I am taking care of an ailing parent. That in itself should be enough, but I also have a sibling who is a world class moocher! Ugh! I take care of everyone, including bathroom duty with my parent, teenagers with attitude and then my sibling takes constant advantage of all my hard work. He pilfers food without asking, begs for money instead of balancing his own accounts, drinks, smokes….the list is endless! I want to run away, hide my head in the sand, scream, kick and cry! HELP!

Signed, Sick and Tired

Dear Sick and Tired,

Pull up your big girl pants and face the facts, you are part of the problem. You are a mom, so raising your teenagers is what you do. The rest, however, can be helped in several ways. Taking care of a parent in one the biggest stressers we will face. I applaud the effort. You seem like someone who is not great at asking for help. Get it done. There are organizations out there for you to tap into. DO IT! It will save you from overload.

Now the sibling…..for goodness sake (I wanted to use much stronger language here, but would get into trouble) tell that mooching backslider to get their ass in gear. As long as you provide a “soft landing”, they will never stop. Why should they?! If you always save them, they will never, ever get their ---- together! Do it girl, you deserve to live a life of joy and contentment.

Signed, Jo

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