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In response to
"Dear Prudence: A creeping suspicion tells me to keep my father-in-law away from my kids. Should I listen to it?"
by
Beaker
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Prudie's response: (ST and her are on the same wave-length)
Posted by
Beaker (aka anniebecca)
Sep 2 '11, 11:43
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Dear Conflicted,
Sure, people can change. Perhaps your father-in-law has gone from being a drug-dealing felon to a Buddhist pederast. One clue that you're dealing with someone with big problems who needs to change but hasn't actually changed is how much effort he puts into convincing everyone he has changed and suggesting "the past" is a construct that must be transcended. There's something ominous in the way your father-in-law wants to "lighten your load" by taking his toddler granddaughter, but not his grandson. You've done a good job of making me shudder at the implication of what he may have in mind when he relieves you of your little girl. It's perfectly possible he's not sexually attracted to toddlers; it's also possible he's trying to lay down a protocol of frequent sleepovers by his granddaughter so he doesn't arouse suspicion when she gets to an age he finds more desirable. I'm indulging in these thoughts because you say convincingly that he gives off a vibe of being "inherently evil." You must follow your gut and not allow him to be alone with the children. It's true that gut instincts can be wrong. Maybe all your father-in-law wants to do is teach your daughter how to bake brownies. (In that case, why can't your son go along?) If those are his intentions, then your daughter will have missed some chocolaty treats and good times with grandpa. But if your instincts are right, you will be saving your daughter from possibly being scarred for life.
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