Mother-in-law refuses day care idea
-- Annoyed
Dear Annoyed: You two are spending too much time together. If you saw each other less frequently, you wouldn't find your sister quite so annoying.
You can't control another person's utterances. You can control your own reaction, and the way you react may influence your sister, to some extent.
When she climbs on her soap box, you should start by telling her, "I think it's great that you are so compassionate, but I don't want to discuss this right now." And then calmly and politely disengage.
Snapping at your sister only inspires her to snap right back.
Dear Amy: "Moving Far Away From Mom" has a plan to move overseas to be with her boyfriend. I hope she spends a few weeks with him and his family before she makes the final commitment. She needs to proceed carefully.
-- Expatriate
Dear Expatriate: I agree. Excellent advice.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, 16650 Westgrove Drive, Suite 175, Addison, Texas, 75001. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
