I root for someone to successfully revive the variety show format (last summer’s Maya and Marty failed miserably), but I doubt that Sarah Silverman is the star to anchor it (Kate McKinnon, in my opinion is the likeliest to pull it off, given the chance). Still, good luck.

You turn it into a request, that they can decline, giving them the controls. ‘Okay, time to go, can I have a goodbye kiss?’ I actually get more cuddles that way, from my babysitting kids, than if I forced it.

I have an uncle (by marriage but like, does it matter) who gave me a hug to say goodbye at a family lunch when I was in my early twenties and got a big old handful of my butt in the process. I left stunned and I have not been back to that house since. Sorry Aunty - not interested in being groped. See you on Facebook.

I have an uncle like that. He’s a tickler. I think when I was around fourteen he reached out toward me and I stepped back, looked him hard in the eye and said “don’t ever touch me again. Ever.” And the fact that he didn’t ever touch me again confirms for me that he is the creep I thought he was, and a coward to…

I prefer short, direct conversations regarding boundaries with the option to escalate

I agree with everything Jane said about Grandpa. It IS sexual and creepy for him to grab your stomach or slap your ass, and it would be sexual and creepy if he did it to an actual child. Casual ass slaps are not a thing people do!

alright alright alright we all agree that grandpa’s a fucking perv and that LW3 needs to learn a few phone settings, BUT WHERE IS THE THREAD WHERE WE TRY TO GUESS WHAT THE EMAIL ADDRESS IS???

One time when I was a kid my grandpa told me that my cat had sexy legs.

Can confirm Jane’s approach is effective. In my case, it was a senior VP at a place I once worked, who enjoyed pinching the cheeks of his female subordinates. My office mate was a frequent victim, but didn’t feel equipped to call him out. The first time he tried it on me, my arm shot up to bat his hand away, and I…

I am having a similar issue with a family member, except it’s not directly with me, it’s my great uncle who has always been a creep to my mom and sister but now he’s doing it to my girlfriend. and she doesn’t want to make waves in the family and it’s something we’ve always just kind of told him to fuck off about but…

My father would always do shit like this - not in like, a sexual way, but in that he thought he was a hilarious joker, always sticking his finger in people’s ears, poking their belly if it was visible, pinching them - that sort of thing. And he thought it was ESPECIALLY funny if it made them mad. I’ve never been…

To LW#1, next time it happens, look directly at him and say firmly and loudly (not yelling, but loud enough that others around you can hear it), “Grandpa, please don’t (grab my body/touch me like that/whatever action he just did).” He’ll get defensive and say, “I was just kidding with you.” In the same clear, firm…

Your grandpa is a gross pervert who sucks, and I wholeheartedly echo Jane’s advice. Either peace out on him or start pushing back EXTREMELY clearly and aggressively.

Uh, LW1? That’s not an okay way for someone to touch a child, either. This kind of shit as a child is why, as an adult, I fucking hate people touching me. Groping children is no more appropriate than groping adults, and your grandfather is disgusting.

LW2: I’m sad because you would think I’m so boring, Jane! I can literally only think of 6 places that I’ve let a man put his penis in or on. I’m confused, curious, and disappointed in myself...

My SIL publicly yelled at my FIL to stop demanding hugs and kisses from her daughter and FIL nearly collapsed in shock. (He doesn’t touch my kid that way because my kid is a boy and male bodies are respected but female bodies are public property.)

FIL just sputtered, “oh? OH? THAT’S BAD? Well, maybe I will never kiss…

1) In case you are interested in ever being on good terms with your family again (as mine would probably uninvite me for Jane’s responses, I’d recommend having a long conversation with your Grandpa and perhaps your father as well on what is and is not acceptable. In particular, stating how uncomfortable their behavior…

LW3, I don’t know about your friends, but I’ve always been under the assumption that text is designed with the intent of the receiving end person to reply to it when they see it and have the time to reply, not immediate response.

People need to stop tip toeing around family members who are being assholes.

Pediatrician here. I recommend any close contact with a baby less than 6 months of age get their TDaP vaccine beforehand. We’re all supposed to get a booster tetanus shot (which is in there) every 10 years anyway, so it’s good personal practice to stay up to date anyway. Minimizing overall contacts in the first 2…