DEAR ABBY: My niece, “Amanda,” is 19 and close with my daughter “Hayley.” Amanda has been going out of town to meet men she meets online. Amanda shares her location with Hayley through Snapchat in case something happens. Amanda is doing this without letting anyone other than Hayley know and often uses my daughter as a cover to her parents.
These aren’t just dinner dates, but usually weekends away from home. Hayley always tells me when Amanda is away. We are both concerned about her behavior, as human trafficking is very real. I have tried talking to Amanda about it, but she insists she’s safe and knows what she is doing. Should I tell her mom or not? They don’t really get along, and this will surely make things worse. — AFRAID FOR HER IN IDAHO
DEAR AFRAID: Amanda is playing with fire. If your daughter were walking on a ledge 20 stories above the sidewalk, thinking she knows what she’s doing, wouldn’t you want to be notified? Her father should be tipped off as well if he’s in the picture. Someone needs to get through to that girl, who seems determined to put herself in harm’s way.
DEAR ABBY: I am a 60-year-old female. Over the past 10 years, people have increasingly been calling me “Sir” in public. I hate it. I go to the salon to get my hair and brows done and wear feminine attire and shoes. I usually carry a purse, but not always. I have an athletic build, and I do wear T-shirts often (I taught physical education for 30 years). My response is, “My name is ‘Susan.'”