Tough Talk,
I need your advice on how to negotiate my new in-laws. They are very formal and even like to dress up for dinner. Presents and parties come with expensive stationary and they expect proper responses and even use the “Respondez vous si vous plait,” just to show how hoity-toity they are. I am concerned about offending them and causing my husband grief as I was not raised this way. What should I do? (Chiggers, KY)
Chiggers,
Your in-laws clearly have an inflated opinion of themselves. Although you may not want to start problems for you and your husband, that is exactly what you have to do. They need to know that not everyone is stuck-up, conceited and pompous. The best thing to do is ignore their requests, show up to their parties anyways and don’t be afraid of making a pest of yourself and ignoring standard etiquette and manners. Belching loudly at the dinner table or other inappropriate behavior is also an option to weigh carefully. Whatever you do, they must know that their behavior is disgraceful and unacceptable.
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Tough Talk 