Recently, she confessed to me that she’s seriously thinking of cutting them off from her son entirely after they “refused” to come babysit so she and her husband could have a date night for their anniversary. She said their reasoning — that they’re not comfortable driving in the dark anymore — was just an excuse.

I gently tried to suggest that she’s not viewing her parents fairly, and tried to probe whether she’s dealing with any postpartum depression that’s clouding her judgment, but she just said, “Of course I’m depressed when my parents blatantly favor their other grandkids.” She then refused to respond to any of my texts or calls for the next two weeks.

I have since avoided the topic with her, but I believe she’ll do it. It will devastate her parents, rob her son of his grandparents and drive a wedge with her other siblings. I don’t know how to get through to her. Help!

Best Friend: It must be crazy-making to watch this play out: For her to deny her child these grandparents just because she refuses to accept a ridiculously common problem — declining night vision in older adults! — is parental malpractice.

She can frame her parents’ choices in the best possible way or the worst, and chooses the worst.

You obviously know all this and have seen it play out before. But it was cathartic to write it out.

Plus, I’ve talked myself into advising more forceful truth-telling now with a grandchild involved. She may cut you off for it, too, so weigh that risk before you speak up.

But a clear, loving statement seems warranted: “It is so painful for me to watch you vilify your parents — and discount how much they love you! — when advancing age explains their decisions so much better than favoritism does. I know you’ve felt the middle-child problem forever. But bad night vision is a thing. Postpartum depression is, too.

“So humor me for a second: What if you decided just to trust me on these for a while? And held off on any big decisions, at least till this wild new-baby time is behind you? If you’re right about favoritism, then you’ll still be right two or three years from now and can deal with it then — but if you’re wrong, rushing to cut ties now could do real harm.”

Adapt with your own words, of course, as always.

A reader also suggested talking to the husband about the possible postpartum depression.

Usual disclaimer: You can’t make someone listen who doesn’t want to. Plus an extra disclaimer: There could be stuff in this family even you don’t know about.

But, still, best friends have standing to break glass in case of emergency. Good luck.

The top two teams in each group, along with the top four third-place finishers, advance to the 16-team knockout round, meaning Hungary will have to wait to see if its three points are enough. Ties are broken first by head-to-head results — or results against all the level teams, in case of a multi-team tie — followed by goal differential and total goals scored. Beyond that, the calculations get more complicated.

Group B will wrap up Monday. Groups C and D will finish play Tuesday, while Groups E and F will end the group stage Wednesday. The tournament’s knockout stage commences with round of 16 games beginning Saturday.

In addition to Germany and Switzerland, Spain and Portugal have already clinched spots in the knockout round.

All days and times Eastern.

Monday’s Euro 2024 games

• Albania vs. Spain, 3 p.m.
• Croatia vs. Italy, 3 p.m.

Group B, considered one of the most challenging in the tournament, concludes Monday, and neither Croatia nor Italy is in a comfortable position. Italy, the defending champion, lost to Spain previously and needs at least a draw against Croatia to ensure passage to the knockout round. Aging Croatia is still led by Real Madrid star Luka Modric but enters Monday ranked last in the group.

Spain, meanwhile, has impressed thus far and is yet to concede a goal. La Roja has already clinched first place in the group. Albania scored first in each of its first two games but likely needs an unlikely win over Spain to advance.

Groups C and D both conclude Tuesday, as the tournament barrels toward the knockout stage. Group D will finish first, with France meeting Poland at noon Eastern and the Netherlands facing Austria at the same time. Poland has yet to record a point and was the first team eliminated from the tournament, while the Netherlands and Austria are both in strong position to advance. France will finish in the top two with at least a draw against Poland, or with a loss and a Netherlands win or draw.

In Group C, Denmark faces Serbia and England meets Slovenia, both at 3 p.m. Eastern. England is assured a top-two finish with a draw or win against Slovenia, or with a Denmark draw or loss against Serbia. Denmark is guaranteed passage with a win, but has plenty of other paths. Slovenia will also advance with a win, while Serbia — which enters in last place — needs at least a win, or a draw and a Slovenia loss, to have a chance.

Looking ahead at the rest of Euro 2024

Here’s a look at the rest of the tournament schedule. All dates and times Eastern.