THINGS I WISH MY KIDS WOULD ASK ME
Editor’s note: Barry Courter has a 22-year-old son who recently graduated from college and an 18-year-old daughter who is a senior in high school.
Q: Dad, what is the best way to deal with a situation that seems to have started by somebody getting bad information?
A: To quote the great philosopher Barney Fife, “Nip it in the bud.” Go to the source as quickly as possible and just ask to talk about it. Usually, once that is done, both sides find out quickly that the disagreement is based on misinformation or a simple misunderstanding. Not talking to the person directly or waiting too long almost always makes the situation worse.
— By Barry Courter