Hope - the way that I interpret what your friend said, is not to start issuing ultimatums, but to decide mentally what you aren't going to put up with. My h bolted after touch and goes all summer, and then peeked out of his tunnel and started trying to play touch and go from a safe distance. I just stopped playing, and then he took the hint, and now just emails VERY occasionally on business matters. Actually they are non-essential, but I deal with them briefly, and within a couple of days.
Maybe I am taking a risk, and he is interpreting it as me being cold, but I think them having the idea that you are always there to sort out their problems, could stop the process of moving forward. Don't know, but that is the way it seems.
