Asking Eric: We’ve run out of ways to say we can’t go to her filthy house
Filthy doesn’t come close to describing the full essence of how unclean her home is.
Asking Eric: Is it socially unacceptable to wear clothes with rips or scuffs?
I can't afford to have a pristine non-work wardrobe.
Miss Manners: My friend couldn’t have known the gift would trigger me like that
How do I prevent it from happening again without getting into my whole family history?
Asking Eric: Kid got bullied, parents didn’t want to make a fuss
Plus: If I'm asked to handle my stepmother's end-of-life issues, can I ask if I'm in her will?
Miss Manners: Are my in-laws’ gift requests considered normal?
I resent having to give so much to my husband's family.
Asking Eric: I get anxious about opening gifts in front of people
Can I tell my mother-in-law to take me off her list?
Asking Eric: Her husband drinks so much that she’s afraid to leave him alone
When I encouraged her to make an exit plan, she hung up on me.
Miss Manners: A woman I know was making a scene in a store. Was my reaction appropriate?
I pretended I didn't notice, but I think she saw me.
Asking Eric: He says he’s too anxious to even look for a job
He hasn't worked since his employer died seven years ago.
Miss Manners: We ordered takeout with our rich new friends, and things took an unexpected turn
I suspect the hefty tab was a paltry amount to them.