Philip Galanes of Social Qs recently tackled a query by a worried grandma. Her 6-year-old grandchild was struggling at school and having temper tantrums. "His parents and teacher are working hard with him," she wrote but the writer's son was giving his son's teacher monthly cash gifts. Grandma asked Galanes, "Is this right?"
Galanes made short shrift of the gift-giving. Since most school districts have rules about gifts to teachers, "Let's assume...that your grandson's teacher and parents know the rules in their district."
His more telling piece of advice applies to all of us who are tempted to intervene in the way our adult children parent their children:
"Rules are important. But no one asked for your advice here."
