Navigating Questions About a Missing Son: Advice from Ask Amy

A concerned mother seeks advice on how to respond to nosy neighbors who may ask about her son's absence and his fiancée living in their second home while he serves his prison sentence for nonviolent drug offenses. Amy suggests being honest about the situation, expressing her son's recovery and reintegration into their lives, and emphasizing their support for him. In another question, Amy advises setting time limits during phone conversations with monologists to avoid being held hostage by lengthy calls.