Dear Eric: I have an acquaintance whom I avoid every chance I get.

Not only does this woman latch onto me every time she sees me, but the worst part, besides not being able to get away from her, is the deplorable way she speaks of her daughter.

She controls her every move and puts her down every chance she gets. Her daughter, in my opinion, was a very sweet, loving child, but as an adult she is now a heroin addict with no direction.

This woman gripes incessantly on how she sees others with their children and how proud they are, but she has nothing to be proud of. And she still wants to control her daughter who is now 30, and all the while talks terribly about her.

Should I continue listening to her nonsense, or should I give her a mouthful of the home truths about her daughter that she deserves?

– Exasperated

Dear Exasperated: Should you continue wasting your time? In this one precious life? No.

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Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.