Jann Blackstone, Tribune News Service

Q. My 14-year-old son refuses to come to my home and I have no idea why. I’m supposed to see him a night or two during the week and every other weekend, but he just won’t come over. I don’t talk to his mother much and when we do, it’s not pretty. She tells me there’s nothing she can do. I think she’s probably badmouthing me and is secretly celebrating that she’s won. What’s good ex-etiquette?

A. I’m guessing, but it’s educated guess.

First, you don’t talk to your son’s mother much and when you do, it’s strained. Parents don’t realize that if they keep the conflict going after the breakup, it puts their kids right in the middle. Their children are then forced to take sides; even if you think you aren’t asking them to do that, you are just by fighting

See Full Page