Wendy Belzberg
By Wendy Belzberg
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News The Complicated Physics of Family Life
I would like to give my future daughter-in-law something special on the day of her wedding. Do you have any suggestions? — Mother-in-law-to-be On a wedding day I would opt for the value of sentiment over material goods. My first thought is that you hand down to your daughter-in-law something that came from your grandmother…
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News Disturbed by Being Disingenuous
This is the time of year when I ask forgiveness of my family and friends for anything I might have done in the past that was hurtful to them and when I focus on forgiving others for hurts they have inflicted on me. A few months ago I had a falling out with a friend,…
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News Causing Confusion, Wedding Invite Mixes Guidance With Gall
My wife and I received the following wedding invitation from a family member: The wonderful couple is not registered and would prefer cash in lieu of gifts. Must we comply? — Confused by cash-only chutzpah Your confusion is understandable; the invitation is too vague. How are you to know without further clarification what your money…
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News Re: Please Stop E-Mailing Me Your Intimate Secrets
I have a friend who e-mails me daily. The e-mails go on for pages and pages, filling me in on the most intimate and the most mundane details of his daily life. It’s not as easy as just changing my phone number. What do I do? — Inbox overload Return to sender? Change your e-mail…
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News Giving Gifts to Ungrateful Grown-ups Gets Old
How long are relatives expected to give gifts to grown children? I have a nephew, 26, and a niece, 23, to whom I have given gifts on every birthday and major holiday. They have never acknowledged my gifts. What is correct now that they are adults? — Unacknowledged auntie Any obligation you may have felt…
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News Perennial Vacation Argument Crops Up Again
We take a family vacation at the end of the summer, and every year my husband and I have the same argument: He works so hard during the year that he should be exempt from any responsibilities during our vacation — including taking care of our children. Both children are under the age of 6….
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News No Seat at Table for Divorce Talk
Is it acceptable to offer one’s sympathy about a recent divorce or death in a social setting? I was at a dinner party and ran into a woman whose mother had died and to whom I had never written a note. I felt awkward not acknowledging the death, but I didn’t feel that the setting…
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News Is It Bad Form To Bring Beau to Ex’s Funeral?
My ex-mother-in-law just passed away. I have been divorced for seven years and have been dating the same man for the past four years. My boyfriend met my ex-mother-in-law and sees my ex-husband often since we share custody of our children. He would like to attend the services with me. Is this appropriate, or will…
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