Dear Annie: After Hurricane Katrina, my sister and her 13-year-old son moved into my home. I notice that when my sister takes a shower, her son goes into the bathroom and talks to her. I am horrified by this and feel it is wrong. I know nothing sexual is going on, but still, it's inappropriate.I confronted my sister, and she said I was just jealous because she and her son have such a close relationship. I told her I didn't want this to happen in my home ever again, but the very next day, the same thing occurred.

I then reported this behaviour to Child Protective Services. My sister told the social worker that after she had surgery many months ago, her son began helping her with her showers because she couldn't do it alone. The social worker told my sister that I was causing problems and she and her son should consider moving out. What do you think? — Concerned Brother

Dear Brother> Of course your sister should not be showering with her 13-year-old son in the room, but your confrontational methods are not helping her reach this conclusion on her own. Instead, she becomes defensive. Sis needs to understand that it is not in her son's best interest for her to create such an intimate environment with a sexually developing boy who loves his mother. A caring parent puts her child's emotional needs first.

You cannot force your sister to stop doing this, nor, apparently, is enough going on for the authorities to step in. Please back off a bit and talk to her calmly, explaining why this is harmful. You also should work on being a father figure to your nephew, which will encourage him to develop a healthier relationship with his mother.

Dear AnniB> Last March, my husband and I took a two-week holiday to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was lovely except for one thing — spring break. I looked around in wonder as planeloads of college kids arrived. Who pays for these kids' vacations? If the answer is "their parents," shame on them! After the performances I saw at our hotel, I decided to enlighten these parents.

Was that your lovely daughter who was so drunk she passed out and vomited in the hot tub and had to be pulled out by hotel security staff? Was it your son who was in such a drunken stupor that he had to be escorted to his room each time he entered the lobby? The bar staff will not serve alcohol to those who are too drunk, but their friends are happy to get them more booze. Bartenders also enforce rules about the number of drinks at a time, but nothing stops the kids from moving to the next bar.

Every year, kids die from alcohol poisoning, drunk girls get sexually assaulted and worse. All this comes as no surprise to me anymore. — California Adult

Dear Adu Many college kids consider drunken binges a rite of passage, and spring break tends to encourage such recklessness. Unfortunately, this behaviour isn't likely to stop, even though it is dangerous. We only hope kids who are planning to behave stupidly will have a sober friend around to watch out for them.

Dear An: I had to write after reading the letter from "Torrance, California," who said women should stop taking men with them when they shop for clothes.

Once, after spending untold hours watching my girlfriend try on clothes and offering my reluctant opinion (you can't win, guys), I took the biggest dress I could find, put it over my clothes and asked if it made my butt look big. She never took me shopping again. — Bill

Dear Bill: We wouldn't take you either. Thanks for the laugh.