Dear Cr-Abby from Adam's Mom

STUBBORN TOT PLAYS HARD TO GET WITH FRUSTRATED GRANDMOTHER

DEAR CR- ABBY: After 12 years on the West Coast, my husband and I moved back East last year with our 3-year-old son, "Adam." My parents, my husband's mom and our siblings live here, and we wanted Adam to know his family.
The problem is, our son has taken to everyone except my mother. He'll hug and kiss everyone but her. He kisses the others in front of her, but crosses his arms over his chest and says, "No!" or runs away if he's asked to kiss her.
At first, Mom said it was OK because Adam needed time to adjust to her. But it has been a year, and he has barely given her two pecks. She says Adam doesn't like her. But he plays with her and has fun with her. Mom is now hinting that I need to teach him to "respect" her. She has referred to him as a "little brat" to others (in front of me) when he refused to be affectionate. I think she's being childish.
I can't force my son to be affectionate with Grandma, and if I continue to press it, he may never be. What can I do to make Mom feel better? -- ADAM'S MOMMY

Dear Go East Young Eve,

Not a very compelling problem for Cr-abby to gnaw on. Hard to believe that lame A## Abby opted to print your "cry for help" with Little Awful Adam.

They say the acorn doesn't fall far from the Oak,...could it be that hubby isn't a big fan of his mother-in-law and little Adam is picking up on that vibe?

You can't force affection, but you can instill discliplne and respect. In your letter you don't suggest that grandmom does anything wrong (aside from the brat comments which seem well deserved). So, I think you need to engage the little sh*t and tell him he will give GM a peck on the check when he comes to the house and one when he leaves. You must be prepared for the predictable resistence and tantrum and give hubby the job to disclipline Adam accordngly. Rinse-Lather-Repeat until desired compliance is achieved.

I don't have the timinig completely down, but it appears that Adam was born out West and then came to the East when he was 2. Hence he did not get that bonding thing with the grandparents that would have happened had logistics not been a problem.

That excuse aside, unless there are things happening behind the scenes that you don't know about or haven't shared in your note...this Bud's for you.

Handle It,

Cr-Abby