Let’s give world’s biggest dictator wholehearted kisses

Mind you, even Myanmar’s military junta doesn’t ground teenagers if they come home reeking of alcohol. Even the most suppressive rulers don’t tell people how to dress. Authoritarian regimes don’t frown on you when your sugar intake is far too much, or if you don’t shower before bed. Most of them allow pubs or discotheques to open. Poor school grades? No pressure and not a word.

Mothers are the opposite of all that, and a lot more. If you resent a government’s prying eyes, try keeping a boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s naughty note in your computer and see who gets to it first. Before you attack political leaders for not respecting privacy, for being too strict, and for being different from other governments, perhaps you should look closer to home.

The family dictators will lessen the grips when you get older. The prying eyes will become less intrusive. You will be able to…