In a recent letter to Miss Manners, a reader expressed concern about their mother-in-law’s habit of showing preference for males in the family, making their daughter feel like a second-class citizen. The family goes on an annual beach trip, and last year, there weren’t enough bedrooms for all the children to have their own, so their son and daughter had to share a room and sleep in the hallway.
This year, the mother-in-law plans to assign the bedroom to the son again, continuing the pattern of favoritism. The reader is torn between speaking up and not wanting to overstep boundaries as a guest in their in-laws’ home.
Miss Manners advises that while the reader cannot reassign rooms in someone else’s house, they can educate their children on how to handle the situation. The son could respectfully ask if he and his friend could switch with his sister and her friend, showing consideration for her feelings and promoting fairness.
It is important to address the issue gently and diplomatically, without causing unnecessary conflict. Ultimately, the reader can provide guidance to their children on how to navigate difficult situations with grace and respect for others.
For more etiquette advice from Miss Manners, readers can visit her website, send an email, or write to her through postal mail.
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