Sometimes relatives deserve each other

Dear Readers: I have stepped away from my daily column for two weeks. While I’m away, I hope you’ll enjoy these topical “Best Of ” questions, chosen from 13 years of “Ask Amy” columns. Today’s letter is about etiquette. I return with fresh questions next week.

Dear Amy: Our family is interested inyourcomments about what to do when a family is presented with a daughter-in-law from hell.Our family has always worked and played together and enjoyed both.

Enter the Cuban, know-itall, daughter-in-law, who tells her parents what to do and has attempted to begin that with the family of her newin-laws.

After taking her wedding vows she snubbed us by excluding us from a receiving line. If ever a $100,000 wedding needed a bridal consultant, itwas thiswedding!

When photos were taken, every female relative had a picture taken with the bride except her new mother-inlaw — me. To say that her mannerisms are offensive is an understatement. Thebottom line: She has no class, manners or breeding.

We love our son but how do we deal with this ill-mannered daughter-in-law? — Sarah

Dear Sarah: You could start by exhibiting an ounce of class, manners and “breeding.” (You could also join this century, where people, thankfully, don’t usually talk about “breeding” and disrespect another’s culture of origin.)

You sound like the motherinfrom hell, and I’m tempted to say that the two of you deserve each other.

You really need to get over the fact that thewedding didn’t go the way you would have liked. Make an effort to make the best of this relationship, because you really don’t have a choice and because that’s what well-mannered and classy people with good “breeding” do. (November 2006)

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