Since the new topic of "Etiquette School Is In Session" has been launched, I have an idea I have been thinking about for a while. It would be a folder where people could post a story about a situation they are having where they need to have a certain conversation with someone, but are not sure how to phrase it. Dr. Phil does this in one of his advice columns, and I find his scripts to be a great model of how difficult conversations should go.
First post, so I hope I'm doing it right...
I have a situation where I'm not sure what an appropriate introduction would be.
My daughter is pregnant and we are having a (family) baby shower for her next month. She's not da
ting the baby's father anymore and his parents are having a really hard time with whole concept of the pregnancy. She's not sure how to approach them since they're refusing to talk to her and asked me if I would invite his mother to the shower as a gesture of goodwill and inclusion.
Okay, that seems like it could be a nice ice-breaker, as long as they don't see it as a gift-grab. So clearly, I need to include a note with the shower invitation. Something along the lines of "I'm the honoree's mom and wanted to introduce myself and invite you to cross six states to be at a baby shower for a child you're pretending doesn't exist." Only, you know, without the snark.
Mostly I want a note that says "this invitation is meant mostly to open a door." Any suggestions?