Lifestyle

A Minor Mooch?: When others pay for your child

Q: When my daughter goes out to dinner or the movies with a friend’s family, I always give her money ahead of time…

Considerate Coworkers: How to thank office mates for group gifts

Q: Several of my coworkers pooled their money and bought a beautiful rocker for my baby shower.  Should I write to each of…

Bed Business: Where should guests sleep?

Q: We often have house-guests in our small, one-bedroom apartment.  I think we should offer them our bed and sleep on the pull-out…

Rest Room Pecking Order: When is bypassing the line allowed?

Q: In a public bathroom, is it okay for my disabled mother-she uses a walker-to bypass a long line and go directly to…

Necessary Napkin Know-How: Correct napkin etiquette

Q: At a restaurant, where do you place your napkin when you’re done eating-on the table?  Also, if you drop your napkin during…

“Do I Need To Lose A Few Pounds?”: A weighty question

Q: My sister asked me if I thought she needed to lose a few pounds, and I said yes, but then she got…

Painful Proximity: Dealing with the ex

Q: My ex-husband has started bringing his girlfriend to our daughter’s high school swim meets.  Although my daughter says she doesn’t mind, the…

Heinous Hand-Me-Downs: When you’re given unwearable clothes

Q: My cousin’s children are older than mine, and she’s always sending me their hand-me-downs.  I don’t want to insult her; but these…

Craving Clean Carpeting: Asking guest to remove their shoes

Q: I just had beautiful white carpet installed throughout my house.  May I request that visitors remove their shoes?

A: Guests might not feel like…

Moving Matters: When the new neighbors don’t say hi

Q: It’s been a month since my husband and I moved into our new house.  One set of next-door neighbors has taken the…