Customs, Etiquette and Manners

October 25, 2023

How Can I Get Myself Invited to My Husband’s Family Parties?

A new wife is eager to join in the fun after her husband and brother-in-law wrap up their weekly jam sessions, but she’s reluctant to impose […]
September 30, 2023

How to Have Fun When Attending a Wedding Alone

Attending a wedding alone can be anxiety-inducing. Here are some tips for having fun even when you don’t know most of the guests. Lucy Mary Taylor […]
September 20, 2023

Why Is My Mother Obsessed With Buying Me a Status Bag?

A reader who is uncomfortable with expensive gifts doesn’t know how to respond to a $7,000 handbag she had begged her mother not to send. My […]
September 19, 2023

Lawmakers Give New Senate Dress Code a Dressing Down

Some senators worry that more casual dress might breed disrespect for Congress. Others argue that the harshest critics have already debased the institution, even in business […]
June 15, 2023

For Black Debutantes in Detroit, Cotillion Is More Than a Ball

In a heady swirl of bright white silk and lace, the young ladies of the Cotillion Society of Detroit Educational Foundation are presented as debutantes. The […]
June 14, 2023

My Sister-in-Law Spent All Her Parents’ Money When She Took Them In. Now She Wants More!

After her sister-in-law spent the money from the sale of her parents’ house on upgrades to her own, a reader bristles at being made to feel […]
April 26, 2023

Why Is My Boyfriend Pursuing Other Options After Planning a Summer With Me?

A reader is left to make new arrangements after learning that her boyfriend, who had agreed to live with her for the summer, was jockeying for […]
April 19, 2023

Is My Daughter Horrible for Refusing to Release Me From Her Student Loans?

A reader eager to be freed from $100,000 worth of co-signer responsibilities seeks a judgment on her daughter’s behavior. Five years ago, my 17-year-old daughter couldn’t […]
March 8, 2023

I Send My Brother Cash for Emergencies, but He Spends It on Vacations. Help!

A reader wants to shore up her brother against financial hardships, but she’s unsure how to stipulate what the money is to be used for without […]
February 15, 2023

What Should I Do About a Neighbor Who Verbally Abused Her Child?

A reader who overheard a neighbor shouting cruelties at her young son wonders whether, and how, to intervene. I live in a small apartment building where […]