Tough Talk,
I have a little sister who I have always loved and adored. She’s had a tough life, but was always there for me when I needed her most. After years of struggling, I did well and decided to thank her by starting a college fund for her only child. He unfortunately never cared about education or really anything other than partying and getting over on his girlfriends. As much as we hate to admit it, he is a disappointment and wonder when he will be arrested. My sister has been ill and really needs some assistance. I’d like to use this fund for her care, but I know it will upset her that it’s a sign that I know he will not be going to college, a dream we both had as children, but knew it wasn’t in the cards. How should I handle this Tough Talk? (Forthburg, Indiana)
Forthy, Don’t worry about your sister’s reaction, worry about her care. If she complains, you tell her that her son is a degenerate scoundrel and is going to wind up in prison. He’s a real piece of crap. It sounds like you should have been doing this a long time ago and maybe he wouldn’t be such an embarrassment. But you need to be brutally honest, life-threatening disease or not.
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Tough Talk 