DEAR MISS MANNERS: My siblings and I are all in our 60s and 70s. I invited them all to a luxury cabin for a family reunion. I asked for a range of dates so I could coordinate the accommodations and food.
Five of my siblings responded immediately with their date ranges. One sibling responded later, and said she was delayed in responding because she had to check with her adult children to see when they could come. I feel this is quite rude, as the invitation was not extended to anyone other than my siblings and their spouses.
She never asked whether the children could attend prior to responding. Would I be a cad to ask her not to bring her children? She reads your column and would heed whatever advice you might give. If I am wrong to feel she is overstepping the invitation, please let me know that as well.
GENTLE READER: Your sister seems like a kind and sensible woman -- and not just because she reads and listens to Miss Manners. If you reassert that this is a siblings-and-spouses-only event, she will no doubt understand. If not, you might remind her that if her children come, everyone else’s -- plus grandchildren, possibly -- will want to, too, and the cabin would overflow.
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com ; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.
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