Landlords, Day Care, and Tongue Piercings (for the last time!)

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I operate a day care out of my home. A friend of mine brings her two boys to my day care about once a week. She stays and plays games with the older kids, and for a while, I appreciated the extra help. But recently, I've been receiving complaints from the children directed at my friend. Apparently, she can be very overbearing with the kids, even to the point of trying to discipline them. I know I have to mention this to her. I'm just not sure if I should ban her from the day care completely, or give her another chance. What should I do?

-Kinder Care

Dear KC,

Your day care is a business, and presumably, your friend and her two children do not pay for its services. So unless your friend is on payroll, you've no obligation to welcome her into your home during day care hours. That said, your worries should be invested not in the feelings of your friend but in the comfort and safety of the children. It takes a lot for a child to speak out against an adult, so you must take their protests seriously. Explain to your friend that you would rather limit the children's contact to employees that work regularly, but that she and her boys would be more than welcome to a candle-light supper on a Saturday evening. Good luck!

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

Are there any known complications between having arthritis and getting a tongue piercing?

-Creaky Tongue(?)

Dear CT,

Ms. Meniscus must regretfully precede this question with the following decree: inquiries on tongue piercings will no longer be published! The subject has been broached for the third and final time within this column. Now, about arthritis and oral, er, enhancements. The two appear to be unrelated, to the best of my knowledge. Furthermore, patronage of a reputable piercing salon will nearly ensure a sore-free tongue piercing experience. Good luck, and be sure to ask for your parent's permission first... ESPECIALLY if you're OVER 40.

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I am seeing my landlord who is 18 years older than I, and we are completely infatuated with each other. Our only problem is religion; he wants me to convert to his faith, and I don't want to. Basically, the only things that keep us together are that we have so much fun together and the sex is great. We've talked about our relationship, and we've both decided that we will "enjoy the ride" until one of us finds someone else. This plan worked for a while, but now I'm afraid of getting hurt eventually. Should I stop seeing him romantically and just be friends? Should I continue to enjoy the ride? What should I do?

-Landlord's Paradise

Dear Paradise,

Ms. Meniscus does not understand why religion is playing a barrier to this seemingly functional cross-generational romance. Therefore, I can surmise only two possible explanations for your boyfriend/landlord's nebulousness: either he is truly concerned about religions differences, as he stated; or he is simply fearful of commitment. Before you start defending him on either account, realize that each reason is equally stupid. If religion was such an issue, he wouldn't be having sex with you. And if it is commitment he's scared of, the guy needs to grow up (need I mention he is 18 years your senior!) and abandon the singleton lifestyle. Face it: this isn't a "ride" you two are enjoying - it's a relationship.

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