From the category archives:
Q: I recently received a very expensive holiday gift from my brother-in-law. I don’t feel right accepting such a gift. Prior to Christmas, the agreement was made that the adults would not exchange gifts. But on Christmas day he had gifts for everyone. I think this goes back to last Christmas, when we also agreed [...]
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Q: I recently received an invitation to a large “Hollywood’” themed party. It mentioned “festive attire”. Isn’t that just one step below “black tie’”? A: Festive attire calls for something that celebrates the season or the event. For the December holidays, for example, when this “dress code” is most often seen, consider semi-dressy fabrics, such [...]
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Q: What is the proper etiquette for including the names of young adult kids who are away in college or living on their own in Christmas card salutations? A: If they are away at school it can be presumed they are still part of their parents’ household and it is fine to include them on [...]
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Q: If I received a Hallmark sympathy card without a hand written message and only signed by the sender is a thank you note needed? A: No, you would write if a personal note was included, but don’t need to write a thank you for a signed sympathy card. It is nice, however, to remember [...]
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Q: I will be meeting my boyfriends family for the first time on Thanksgiving. We will be arriving ‘after’ dinner and I don’t know what would be the proper thing for me to bring? I don’t want to go empty handed. Help? A: A pretty plant would be a nice gift, or any gourment food [...]
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Q: Is it my responsibility to clean up leaves that fall from my tree onto my neighbor’s lawn? I have raked them up at my neighbor’s a couple of times, but don’t feel like I need to do it daily. A: No, that is one of the burdens of fall – when leaves from your [...]
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Q: How do you show gratitude to a family member who took care of me for over two weeks? This family member took us to the Caribbean all-expenses paid. They had no expectations, but simply to give. A: What a wonderful gift! You do your best to compose a truly heartfelt thank-you note and then, [...]
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Q: Do you send thank you cards to everyone who signed the book at a funeral…or wait and see what donations were made to the charity we chose? A: You are not obliged to write to those who attended a funeral, assuming you greeted everyone when they left and you thanked them in person. You [...]
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Q: My female boss gave me a pair of earrings as a gift. This morning, I took them out of the box, to wear for the first time, and I put the first earring in, and I felt something drop; it was the pearl which hung at the drop of the earring. Should I tell [...]
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Q: My wife and I had argument last night while dining out. She placed her napkin (paper) on top of her plate when she had finished her dinner. I said it should be placed beside the plate. Placing one’s napkin besides the plate is all that I have ever heard or been told to do. [...]
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The Gift of Good Manners
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