Abused siblings want to speak out
Invites were sent with RSVP cards stating the number of seats reserved for each family.
To my sister and her family, I noted that we had four seats reserved for their family of four.
In the response card, guests were simply supposed to state if all the guests were coming, or to fill in a number of the number that would be attending, if not everyone could make it.
My sister changed the number from four to five and added the name of my niece's college roommate, whom I don't even know.
How do I clear this up with her? I thought my RSVP card would make this clear.
-- Unsure Sister
Dear Unsure: It's called a telephone. You use it, immediately, to communicate with your sister about her misunderstanding.
You say, "Hi, I just received your RSVP card and I see that you have added a person. Unfortunately, we can't add any guests. We're excited to see you, Wayne and the kids."
Your sister has already leapt over a (nicely engraved) boundary, and so she will likely attempt to overpower you in this context, too. Just respond firmly, consistently and politely.
Repeat after me: Her problem (wanting her nearly grown daughter to have a playdate at a family wedding) is not your problem.
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