DEAR ABBY: I generally have an excellent relationship with my 14-year-old granddaughter. However, she thinks it’s funny to tell me outrageous lies with a straight face to see if she can get me to believe them.
Once she told me her family was going to Hawaii for a month. Another time, she jerked her arms around and said she has “tics.” When I asked what she was talking about, she announced she had Tourette’s syndrome.
Both were untrue. I had epilepsy as a teenager, so I’m especially sensitive about a grandchild developing a neurological condition.
I’m having second thoughts about having her around if she’s going to purposely upset me. I sent a text to her mother telling her about it, but received no response indicating she would talk to her daughter about it or have her apologize. What should I do? — HUMORLESS IN IOWA
DEAR HUMORLESS: Try this: Tell your granddaughter you have bought tickets to a Taylor Swift or Harry Styles concert and ask if she would like to go with you. Then, when she reacts, start laughing.