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Dear Heloise: Regarding teaching responsibility to an 11-year-old, any parent who threatens to give away an adopted pet as a punishment doesn’t understand responsibility! I was saddened to read the letter from a parent who wanted to model loving, responsible behavior to a young child with threats to abandon any pet, which is the most irresponsible behavior at play here.
There are many ways to teach good behavior, starting with the sharing of tasks and small steps that begin long before the awesome responsibility of pet ownership begins. When a child can regularly make his bed, take out the trash, or do his homework on time, he’s on his way to experiencing the joy of a dog.
No pet’s safety or well-being should be on the line as part of a long list of daily chores that its youthful owner/companion must accomplish. A pet belongs to an entire family, and parents should share in its care. — Jane C., in Tucson, Arizona
Jane, I happen to agree with you. A pet is a living, breathing creature — not a bargaining chip. If a parent takes away a pet that a child loves, all they do is teach the kid to distrust them. There are many families who’d do well to look for family counselors who can help them work through issues that are a problem. — Heloise
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GET ALL THE COFFEE OUT
Dear Heloise: This question came up before, but today I just discovered a surefire way to empty the last ground coffee over the lip of the can container: Put the plastic lid back on, turn it upside down, and shake it every which way. Carefully remove the lid while it’s still upside down and empty the coffee into your chosen destination. — Pam S., in St. Louis
Pam, this is a great idea! Thank you for the hint. — Heloise
HEMOSTAT HINT
Dear Heloise: The strip to open a plastic tub of cat litter is rather difficult to use; it’s challenging at best to get a good grip by using the holes on either end of this strip. Last night, I was having an especially hard time getting a tub open, and since I had to pull harder than usual, one of the rings split, rendering it pretty much useless.
In desperation, I grabbed a hemostat from my “semi-junk drawer.” I had the strip removed and the container open in less than 2 minutes. — Barb S., via email
Barb, this is a clever use for a hemostat, but some of my readers don’t know what a “hemostat” is or how it’s used. A hemostat is a forceps with a locking mechanism that’s used in many medical settings and in surgery — for example, to hold two sterile pieces of draping together. — Heloise
STUBBORN PACKAGING
Dear Heloise: After the Tylenol murders in 1982, all manufacturers had to change their packaging to protect their products and consumers. It makes life harder but safer. — Janice G., via email
Janice, the days when we could leave our homes and cars unlocked, when kids were safe playing in front of their homes, and when neighbors kept an eye on your home if you were gone are over. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the state of things today. Plus, pharmaceutical companies tend to be very cautious. — Heloise