Dear Queenie,
My daughter and her husband had a son who is now 5 years old. My daughter died a couple of years ago and her husband (is he still my son-in-law?) has remarried to a woman who has a son a little older than my grandson who is bully and just a little brat.
When my grandson comes to visit me they want the other boy to come along, but he is rude to me and mean to my grandson in front of me. He even behaves that way when I visit my grandson at their home.
Queenie, I don’t want the other boy to come to visit me along with my grandson, but I’m afraid if I don’t let him come they won’t let my grandson come to visit me either. Is there anything I can do about all this?—Worried grandma
Dear Grandma,
Have you talked to your grandson’s father and his new wife about the way “the other boy” behaves? It may be because he is jealous of your grandson. Whatever the reason, he needs to be taught to behave better toward both your grandson and you before he is allowed to visit you.
Does “the other boy” not have grandparents of his own? Perhaps it could be arranged for him to visit them when your grandson visits you – and in any case, your grandson should not have to go along when he visits them any more than “the other boy” should come along when your grandson visits you.
