Part of the reply from Ms Hax to the letter that inspired this one:
‘I see preying on people’s sympathies as a particularly insidious form of blackmail. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t live your life on your own terms!!” does not warm my heart or even pluck my guilt strings. It’s a form of manipulation and control like any other — except crocheted into an afghan and presented as love.’
One of the readers commented that a good reply to the MIL would be: ‘No we don’t hate you. But we hate the way you are behaving now. And we aren’t going to discuss this any more.’
DHBirr over 1 year ago
Part of the reply from Ms Hax to the letter that inspired this one:
‘I see preying on people’s sympathies as a particularly insidious form of blackmail. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t live your life on your own terms!!” does not warm my heart or even pluck my guilt strings. It’s a form of manipulation and control like any other — except crocheted into an afghan and presented as love.’
One of the readers commented that a good reply to the MIL would be: ‘No we don’t hate you. But we hate the way you are behaving now. And we aren’t going to discuss this any more.’
Thehag over 1 year ago
I love Carolyn Hax’ answers!