‘Dear Diane: Drama Queen’ gives birth to whole new fiasco

Dear Diane: Mutual friends of my wife and me, “Jake” and “Laura,” were expecting their first child. The doctor was to induce labor on Monday. The previous Friday, Laura sent out a massive number of e-mails “inviting” friends, family, co-workers and lord knows who else to attend the “birthing” of their baby.

Frankly, I was appalled. I may be Laura’s friend, but there’s no reason for me to be in the delivery room. Jake should be there, of course, and perhaps Laura’s mother, but that should be it. Laura is an Attention Pig, and this is just another ploy to get people to stroke her vanity.

So, I shot back a reply e-mail to Laura stating that since my wife and I weren’t invited to witness the conception, we would not be attending this birthing fiasco; but we would love to come visit the happy family when they get settled back home.

I told my wife about the e-mail, and she hit the ceiling. She said that since we’re friends with Jake and Laura, we should attend. I told her she’s more than welcome to take a day off from work and sit in a crowded room watching a sweaty woman turn a perfectly natural occurrence into a melodramatic production number, but I would have nothing to do with it.

She went.

Since then, things have been frosty at home and with Jake and especially with The Drama Queen. What can I do to smooth things over? — Doug in Denver

Dear Doug: Not much. If Laura is as big of a Drama Queen as you say, she will never miss a chance to throw it back in your face.

Do apologize to your wife and try to make amends. You’re not apologizing for refusing to attend the birth, but for declining the invitation on behalf of your wife without consulting her first.