Spoons, spoons and more spoons

Dear Miss Manners: I inherited a beautiful set of sterling silverware from 1908 that belonged to my grandparents. There are 12 spoons of which I can’t figure out the use: They are the size of what we would today use as serving spoons — but 12 of them!

I also inherited another silver set from 1917 — a different pattern — and those have the traditional round spoons. Can you help me figure out what was the purpose of all these spoons?

Gentle Reader: Certainly. You only have to realize that your ancestors were more precise about their silverware than people are apt to be today.

Your grandparents were indeed eating soup with those large oval spoons — just not creamed soup, which requires the round spoons that your other relatives thoughtfully provided. Should you someday inherit small round spoons, Miss Manners will consider your life complete, as you will then also be able to eat bouillon properly.

Dear Miss Manners: My husband and I own a small business. For a bit, our oldest son worked with us. He no longer does, and due to drug and mental health issues, we had to file a restraining order against him.

Since he worked there, occasionally we have to field questions on how he is doing. I have been pretty good with a vague, “Like many young adults, he is out there trying to find his way.”

My husband tends to overshare, explaining exactly what happened and how he feels about it.

I have asked him in private to please stop sharing our personal life with customers; and I have tried abruptly saying, “Enough about our son. How have YOU been?” hoping he gets the hint.

Is there a polite way that I can shut down a line of conversation before he gets going?

Gentle Reader: You might point out to your husband that if your son is able to overcome his problems, he will have the additional burden of dealing with his father’s public condemnation. While Miss Manners recognizes your husband needs an outlet for his anguish, you might ask him to vent with you, without going public.