If you’re anything like me, you take the letters written to ‘agony aunts’ in the newspaper with a pinch of salt. Some just seem too weird to be real, others just make you think “Don’t you have any friends to ask instead?”

Still, some people seem to believe that this method, asking a total stranger for advice about private matters on a public forum, is the best way forward. Take this mother for example, who wrote to ‘Dear Prudence’ an agony aunt on Slate that appears as a podcast, live chat and publication on their website.

Like many older mothers, she dreams of the pitter-patter of tiny feet returning once again to the family in the form of dear grandchildren. Feeling like she’s tried all options on the table to get her son and daughter-in-law to agree, she turns to Prudie. “How do we convince them that we only want them to be happy?” She asks.

I think it’s fair to say, Prudie is not impressed. Scroll down to see her scathing response, and tell us what you think. Do you agree with Prudie? Have any sympathy with the mother? Let us know in the comments below!

This letter to ‘Dear Prudence,’ an agony aunt on the magazine Slate, appeared recently and received a scathing reply from Prudie

People reacted by relating to and agreeing with Prudie’s advice