DEAR ABBY: I have a close friend who is divorced with one son. What is your opinion of a father who insists his 11-year-old son -- and since he was even younger -- respond to his father with, "Yes, sir"? If the son responds with, "Yes, Dad," "Yes," "Yeah, Dad," etc., the father responds with "WHAT did you say?" until the son responds with "Yes, sir."This letter was obviously written by the ex-wife. No one else would be so petty and spiteful. She has harassed him by requesting repeated psychiatric reports, and yet her biggest complaint is that he teaches his son to say, "yes sir".
The father has been deemed a narcissist by three court-appointed psychiatrists. He is a control freak, and I feel this is mental abuse to the son. What are your thoughts? -- APPALLED IN GLENDALE, OHIO
As Dear Abby says, many people consider "yes sir" to be good manners. It is disgusting to see a bitter ex-wife try to stop a father from teaching manners to the son. If I were the judge in the case, I would dismiss her complaint if it included something so silly as a gripe about "yes sir".
1 comment:
I make all three of my children say yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, and no ma'am when responding to any and all adults without exception. I believe I am a good dad and I am very close with all three boys. They know that manners and showing respect are a house rule/requirement. All three are great, happy, well-adjusted, polite, and respectful.
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