Tough Talk,
My wife and I have been married for years and her great aunt’s boyfriend’s younger step-sister’s cousin’s mother recently moved away. She offered a lot of support to my wife’s aunt which is now gone. We have tried to help out where we can, but this woman expects people to only care about her situation and her needs. It’s exasperating with all her requests and demands. She really acts superior as if she pays the rent and does so much for us which is not true. Like we’re supposed to fall all over ourselves taking care of her chewing tobacco habit. What do you think my wife and I should do TT? (Eggert, Indiana)
Gertie,
You need to tell this mooch that there are significant issues with her personality and that she is going to have to go through training and other rigorous activities for your further assistance. For example, the next time she asks you to do something, you take her out for a round of shopping and errands and keep telling her, “we’re gonna pick up your crappy tobacco, but just one more thing,” and after you’re finished, you tell her you’ll have to help her some other time. Also you make her “help you” like keeping watch on a corner in your neighborhood late at night or moving your garbage into a junk yard and then moving it all back. It doesn’t matter, you just keep blowing her off until she gets the hint.
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Tough Talk 