Give sisters chance to hear your feelings

Dear Carolyn: It really bothers me that whenever I talk to my sisters who live in other cities, they never ask about my fiance. Obviously, they do not approve of our relationship.

I find this rude and improper and an underhanded way of showing their disapproval and in the process insulting me. If I say anything directly and THEN they change their behavior, it would be meaningless since it is forced, and if I don’t say anything, this embarrassing behavior will continue. What is the best way to handle this? – Miffed

By not being so quick to dismiss the value of asking for better treatment.

Per your calculations, people who behave badly either have to figure out their own errors – and intuit just what amends will be to your liking – or take up permanent residency on your bad side. How punitive.

If you were to say, “When you talk to me without even mentioning my fiance, I feel really hurt. What’s going on?” you would actually be talking to your sisters, instead of assigning them opinions and actions in your mind. The full story is never as tidy as the one that starts with “Obviously … ,” but it usually ends better.

That’s because it gives the main characters a chance to make things right – be it to catch themselves in any subconscious choices they’ve made, or explain any conscious ones – including to express any reservations they might have about your relationship.

If you speak plainly to them, and they respond with the truth and/or an effort to ask about your fiance more often, then that will tell you they care about your feelings. If that’s “meaningless” to you, then this isn’t all on them.