An article out of Scotland this morning had me reaching for the Platex Living Gloves in preparation for a drive-by-slapping, but further study has me thinking there just might be a few tasty nuggets on offer with this whine served up by a grown child taking issue with her parents' behavior.

Seems her sixty-something mom and stepfather have decided to SKI -- spend the kids' inheritance -- and she's none too happy about the turn of events. They are traveling, and have even decided to ... gasp ... be away for Christmas!

You can imagine my shock.

I asked all of the obvious questions. What on earth did they think they were doing? And what about us? But all they could do is smile and say they had everything under control. I could barely contain my horror.

Sheesh. Get a grip, Girl!

In true bratnacular, this jackanapes doesn't stumble over a single syllable as she declares that the heart-warming thought of watching parents "head off into the sunset for the adventure of a lifetime" would be rightly jettisoned at the drop of a hat, traded off without hesitation for the trip to be hers instead.

Complaining about having to "work her socks off" while her parents enjoy themselves and contemplate selling off the family home ... seems a 28-year-old brother has finally removed himself from the nest ... and getting little use out of the parent's holiday home, she even accuses her folks of screening their calls, possibly to avoid her.

Reading about how miffed this monster is at her parents enjoying life without her makes me wonder what her reaction ... and that of the 28-year-old trying out his training wheels on life ... would be if Mother and Stepdad decided to redirect their fun and funds by adding a child to the family.

What if the two-month holiday in India that is so depleting future coffers inspired this couple to investigate the possibility of adopting an older child? Any guesses as to what the conversation explaining this decision to Miss Mollycoddle would sound like?

Those folks most certainly wouldn't be the first or the last to get grief about the idea of adoption from grown kids. Groups and forums are replete with accounts of sour grapes and bad feelings boiling over as new children come under the wing of parents long assumed to forever fill a role they may not relish.

The other nugget in this story is the idea that the darlings adopted in our maturity won't have nearly so much time to grouse about us. We'll be less likely to go off skiing the black runs at 80 after spending our fifties and sixties wiping noses, so there's probably a good example of something for someone coming out of adopting as older parents.

I'd also like to think we'll be less likely to produce the sort of spoiled brats who begrudge their parents any happiness that doesn't revolve around them.