Dear Abby: Im a frustrated teacher parents need to put their phones down and pay attention to their kids

DEAR ABBY: You sometimes ask readers to share their pet peeves.I am a public school teacher, and here is mine: Parents wonder why their children misbehave, argue with them and act out with attention-getting behaviors.

My advice to them: Put down those cellphones and pay attention to your kids!I just had a conference with a mother whose children argue, pout and scream when they are told to do something at home.These children have no special needs and don’t demonstrate those behaviors at school.

Abby, the woman texted on her phone throughout the meeting.That behavior is not OK.The next time I encounter a parent who does it, I will ask the person if he or she would like to suspend the conference to take care of the pressing business.

Perhaps these parents need to be embarrassed a bit so they will realize how inappropriate texting or talking on the phone is when face-to-face with another person.— A VENTING EDUCATORDEAR EDUCATOR: I agree that what the parent did was extremely rude.

It sent the unmistakable message that not only was the meeting not important to her, but neither was anything you had to say.If you are asking me for permission to inform parents that cellphones must be silenced and out of sight during conferences with you, you have it.

My advice is to say it as soon as the parent enters your classroom.You can frame it as parents following the same rules as students in your space.DEAR ABBY: I have three grown children.

One son, “Charles,” with his wife and three elementary-school-aged children, rents the house next door to me for about $1,200 a month less than I might charge a nonfamily renter.My other two kids live hundreds of miles away.

My younger son, “James,” is unmarried and without children.He thinks I’m being unfair to him and his sister because I’m not charging the maximum rent the house might get, thereby reducing his inheritance.

I place great value in having Charles and his family living next door to me.James thinks I shoul...