Each week, Prudence asks readers for their thoughts on the letters she’s received. Her reply will be available every Friday only for Slate Plus members .

Hey Prudence,

Re Bloody Bathroom: Reading through the comments, it seems my kid is a disgusting slob and I’m a terrible parent. Yikes. But here’s the thing I think people are missing.

There’s a wide range of bathroom behaviors at issue in that first letter. My 15-year-old routinely leaves towels and clothes on the floor and definitely does not wash out the sink every time she brushes. She will even occasionally forget to flush (I blame the phone permanently attached to her hand). But the tampon on the floor is truly vile and has never been an issue with my kid. Suffice it to say, I think treating this entire spectrum of

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