Teen saddened by parents' fighting

DEAR AMY I am 13. Whenever my parents are in the same room, I hear them getting mad at each other! They fight over my mom's cooking, they fight over jobs, they fight over who should drive car pool. It's just awful! I'm not sure if they know that my sister and I can hear them fighting, but they don't try to hide it. Are my parents headed for a divorce? Should I confront them and tell them to shape up? I'm so sad. I want to see my parents happy again!Miserable

DEAR MISERABLE I wish every parent would clip your letter and tape it to their bathroom mirror as a daily reminder of how confusing and sad it is for children when their parents fight. Thank you for giving a voice to this -- and for giving parents the motivation to change.

Telling them to shape up might not be successful, but I like your idea because I agree with you in that they definitely need to shape up. It is normal for moms and dads to argue. Arguing can be a good thing -- if arguing leads to solutions. But people should be respectful, even when they are disagreeing.

Please tell your parents what you see and hear, and share your concern with them. Do this during a quiet time, not when things are heated.

Tell them you're worried. Tell them you and your sister hear them fighting and say it scares you and makes you sad.

I am crossing my fingers that your statements shock your parents into behaving differently.

DEAR AMY On Christmas Eve, our kids are allowed to open one gift, but it's always new pajamas. The kids love wearing their new pajamas when they go to sleep (we tell them the PJs help Christmas come faster) and they always look good in pictures the next morning.

Savvy in Louisiana

DEAR SAVVY Several readers have reported that a savvy Santa always starts the holiday with jammies. I like it!