Illustration: Pierre Le-Tan

Q: My daughter wants to bring her new boyfriend home for four days. He's an unemployed dud who grunts at us. Can I ask her to come by herself?
 
A: "When your daughter is in a serious relationship, it's unkind to ask her to leave her partner at home simply because he isn't impressive or entertaining." 
— Anita L. Allen, professor of law and philosophy, the University of Pennsylvania Law School

"If your objective is to inform your daughter of your disapproval, it may be more effective to simply talk to her about your feelings. On the other hand, this "dud" may be around for a while, so you may want to use your energy to find something you like about him." 
— Rudy Rasmus, pastor, St. John's United Methodist Church in Houston