Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: What if guests bring toddler to Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 15:11:15 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;COMICS;DEAR ABBY \SS (WS) \HD What if guests bring toddler to wedding? \BY Abigail Van Buren \CR UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE DEAR ABBY: You have covered this topic numerous times in your column, but it just happened to me and I am stuck for a solution. Our wedding is coming up soon, and we just received a response card on which the couple had penciled in " - and child." Abby, their child is under 2 years old and the father is a colleague of my fiance. We both fear it would be rude if we asked the couple to please leave their child at home. On the other hand, we do not want a crying child to ruin our formal church wedding. What other course of action can we take? - IN A BIND DEAR IN: Because I'm sure you wouldn't want to offend your fiance's colleague, you could make arrangements to have someone look after the child in the church basement - or another room in the church - during the wedding ceremony. But first, you must inform the parents of your plan, and hope they agree to it. Don't be surprised if they insist on having their child with them during the ceremony. People who are brazen enough to "pencil in" the news that they are bringing their child without asking permission to do so are capable of declining your offer to provide a sitter. DEAR ABBY: Some time ago, I read a letter in your column expressing sadness over the readiness of drivers to exchange obscene one-fingered salutes and the general lack of courtesy. She wanted to know if there was some way to promote courtesy and good will. We all make errors in driving, either in judgment, lack of attention or knowledge. In the spirit of harmony, I am suggesting we might promote a language of hand gestures to communicate messages other than anger or irritation. Your column reaches so many people, I am sure your readers could add to or improve on these. We need to make traveling our highways a pleasant and safe experience. Thank you for anything you can do. - DODIE RUEGEMER DEAR DODIE: How about a nod, a smile and mouthing the words, "Thank you"? DEAR ABBY: Please tell your readers that it is rude to stare. I am a 28-year-old adult who stands 4 foot 6 inches tall. I hate it when ill-mannered adults, and the children they raise, glare and gawk at me. It is painful and it hurts. We "little people" thank you for the article that helped our organization a few years ago. I too was inspired. Please print it again. - LITTLE PACKAGE DEAR LITTLE PACKAGE: Thank you for pointing out that making others, whatever their height, weight, ethnicity or adversity, feel they are the object of curiosity is insensitive and inappropriate. And thank you, too, for giving me the opportunity to offer little people a wonderful resource: Little People of America - a nationwide voluntary organization that is dedicated to helping people of short stature. It provides fellowship, moral support and helpful information through informed gatherings, chapter and district meetings and nationwide conventions. The basic requirement for membership is height no more than 4 feet 10 inches. LPA has more than 4,000 members. To contact them and/or join one of 40 chapters nationwide, write: Little People of America Inc., PO Box 9897, Washington, D.C. 20016. To buy Abby's booklet, "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It," send a long, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, PO Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.) This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM