The article addresses two etiquette dilemmas: gifting at a birthday party and addressing a future mother-in-law. For the first, Miss Manners advises that giving a gift to a spouse during their birthday celebration could appear self-promoting. Instead, it's better to gift them beforehand to shift the focus onto the honoree. The second situation involves a fiancé’s mother who wishes to be addressed as 'Mom'. Miss Manners suggests the reader attribute their reluctance to their own mother's feelings, thus navigating the sensitive dynamics tactfully.
I am worried that it might hurt my mom's feelings if I call you Mom, and that's why I can't do it.
Doing so, and touting the open bar as a surprise, do betray some grandstanding drawing attention to how wonderful a host and spouse you are.
Collection
[
|
...
]