Ask Amy: Should photo hang despite divorce?

Dear Amy:

My daughter's wedding picture - a formal, studio portrait showing her wearing her wedding gown - is a beautiful photo of her, and it hangs in my living room.

But my daughter and her husband divorced after six years of marriage because he "just was not happy." He has remarried.

My daughter is not married, and she is the mother of a wonderful 4-year-old boy. They live in another town.

I never thought anything about this photograph until someone brought it to my attention. Should the picture stay, or should it go into a closet for storage?

Dear Mom:

You should ask your daughter what she thinks of the photograph. If she doesn't mind it hanging in your living room and if you like it there, then keep it.

If you choose to remove it from the wall, don't go overboard and stick it into a closet - you might want to hang it in your bedroom.

Additionally, I have an idea for a holiday gift from you to your daughter. You could offer her a new studio sitting - and this time the portrait could be of her with your grandson, or of the three of you together.

Dear Amy: I am responding to "Sad and Shocked," who talked about a mother's referring to seventh-grade girls as "whores."

As a sophomore boy in high school, I know what modern middle-school students are like. The sad truth is that there are some girls who, by seventh grade, wear tight and revealing clothes and are rather flirtatious with a number of boys.

While I believe it is OK for peers to call these girls "whores," it is completely inappropriate for parents to use this word. Kids exchanging insults with other kids, while it may not be nice, is normal. Parents blatantly insulting kids like that is uncalled for.

This mother should be confronted, and someone should explain to her the rules and courtesy of modern society.

Dear Times:

Thank you for weighing in. I have a quibble, however.

It is inappropriate and cruel for anyone to use this offensive term to describe a girl or woman. That includes you.

I am aware that adolescent girls sometimes act and dress completely inappropriately, but there are ways to make them aware of their behavior without resorting to slinging an epithet. I know that you have the idea that peer groups can insult one another any way they please, but I hope you'll reconsider.

You and your friends are in the position to set a new standard and provide a decent example for younger kids.