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Ask Amy: An in-law’s unfiltered comment leaves a mark

Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

Dear Sad News: Yes, Christmas is a time of hope and celebration, but Christmas letters are also often chronicles of a family’s transitions and passages. There is no one way to compose one of these annual holiday letters, but my favorites are those that include a photo or two, as well as a brief rundown of the family’s year, including births, deaths, graduations, job transitions, and acknowledgments of challenges, as well as joyful times.

If you choose to disclose the breakup of your very long marriage in this letter, you might expect to hear back from some of these once-a-year correspondents, expressing their interest or concern. Do you want to hear from them? And will you be disappointed if you don’t?

If you do choose to include this item, you might write something like: “Some sad news here, as Jim and I are divorcing after four decades of marriage. This is a bittersweet time for our family, but we are moving forward with as much grace as possible.”

Dear Amy: Oh, that question from “Unsure Mom” really brought back some unpleasant memories for me. Like Unsure, my mother often told me how much “better” I would look wearing makeup.

I know she meant to be encouraging; unfortunately, her words had the opposite effect.

– Makeup Free

 

Dear Free: I hope this sort of pressure is a thing of the past.

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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

©2022 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


 

 

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