Family baby shower ends with pilfered leftovers

Dear Amy: I recently helped my sister give a baby shower for her daughter-in-law, "Linda." Linda's mother and sister were on the invitation as co-hosts.

The shower was at my sister's house, and she provided the food (about 10 platters), decorations, flowers, etc. Linda's mother brought one food item for about 12 people, but she knew we were expecting at least 20. Linda's sister brought the cake.

At the end of the shower, we were busy with guests and carrying all the gifts to the car. Linda's mother and sister put away the food. After my sister and I washed all the dishes, cleaned and rearranged the house, we decided to have some of the leftover food. Amy, we couldn't find anything: no fruit, no cookies, no cake, nothing!

Linda's mother had taken all the food home! After speaking with another daughter, she told us that she doesn't invite this woman to any more gatherings because this is what she does! Have you ever heard of anything so rude? I am afraid of what I will say if I am in her presence again. By the way, she is wealthy and owns two homes.

The final insult was when the sister posted photos of the shower on Facebook and did not even mention my sister! What can I say to these boorish people?

Dear Hangry: These two women contributed to the shower and helped afterward. I would not focus on the paucity of their offerings, but I do think it is completely natural to inquire where all of the leftover food went ("Linda's" sister was within her rights to take home any leftover cake, since she had brought it).

Contact both women to say, "Thank you for your help with Linda's shower. We appreciated your contributions, and I think everyone had a good time. I'm confused, however. Where did all of the leftover food go? Did you take it home with you?" That's it. The cannoli is then in her court.

Dear Amy: Thank you for your reply to "Worried Widower," who was berated by his daughter's teacher at school because he told his daughter about puberty, menstruation and sexual health. I was raised by my father. I’m so grateful to my dad for talking to me about these things! It can't have been easy to go over this stuff with a crying 12-year-old, but he did.

Dear Daughter: Love makes these hard things easy.