Busybody mom is driving us crazy

DEAR AMY: I am 13 years old and the youngest of three kids. My brother, sister and I are fed up with our mother not respecting our privacy! My sister is in college, and if she doesn't call home every day, my mother decides something horrible has happened. My mom reads my e-mail, too, and jabbers into my ear whenever I write something. If my 17-year-old brother and I are home alone, she calls every 10 minutes. When my brother had finals at school, she came into his room all the time and droned on and on. One time my friends were over, and she barged into my room as we were talking. When we asked her if we could walk into town for lunch, she said, "Wait, I'll come, too!" None of us had an appetite after that. We are good kids and have never lied to her. We don't see why she has to snoop. What do you recommend?Bothered Kid

DEAR BOTHERED: You can ask your mother for more freedom and more privacy, but you can't prevent her from being annoying. Your duty is to try to communicate your desires to her in a respectful way, and think about her feelings.

Your mom might be willing to give you more e-mail privacy if you promise to be more open with her. She might be able to go a day without talking to your sister at college if your sister agrees to call her three times a week on a schedule.

DEAR AMY: You really missed the boat on your advice to "Sad Sister," the woman whose sisters cheated her out of her inheritance and then came calling when she struck it rich.

What she needs is a good attorney who is quick with a restraining order. Someone who cheats you and then wants to apologize and make nice is just looking for a way in the door to do it again.MaryDEAR MARY: If "Sad Sister" is able to establish clear boundaries, she won't need a court order.