DEAR CAROLYN: My brother and sister-in-law have been critical of the fact that we are planners. If we invite them for a dinner party, we send out an invitation, date, time, occasion and ask for an RSVP. We never hear back. We've called and left messages on the phone, texted, emailed, but they don't let us know if they are coming. My husband is gracious enough to say, "Just make enough. If they don't come, we'll have leftovers." They are a family of four.

We've heard through others that they are upset that we don't check the dates and times with them before making plans.

So another Father's Day came and went. My dad was so hurt when they didn't show. It turned out that their son had a game. If they had asked, "Can we reschedule?" then we would have.

Are we in the wrong? Should we be checking with them? Or are they in the wrong for not RSVP-ing; if so, is there anything we can do about it?

An Organized but Frustrated Host

DEAR HOST: Depends. Do you want to win or gather?

The etiquette angle here is a no-brainer. Their nonresponses to your invitations and voice mails and texts and emails are rude and passive-aggressive. If these were friends of yours, I'd be saying that these aren't friends of yours.

The family angle here is a no-brainer. You set a Father's Day dinner for your dad without clearing the time with his son? Really?


If I had to guess, I'd say you're looking at a sister-in-law who is bent out of shape over mistreatment real or perceived, by you specifically or by your family in general, and is using these occasions as her proverbial duel at dawn. So far, your response has been to clean your pistol and set your alarm, under the faultlessly polite guise of "asking for an RSVP."

It's still not the kind, compassionate or mature answer. The answer is to treat your brother and sister-in-law as family, and not guests. It's to talk to your brother -- "Hey, let's figure out a way to handle these family events that works for both of us, because the current standoff is ridonkulous" -- instead of relying on grudge reports from third parties.


When you want to host a family-centric gathering, call your brother and sister-in-law. Ask them if Saturday the nth works for a celebration.

Conversely, when you are just being social and including this family among friends of yours for a dinner, then give them the standard invitation treatment, where you pick a date and if they can't make it, then, oh well, seeya next time. As a gesture of peace, also follow up your formal invitations with a quick voice mail: "Hey, just sent you an invitation to a party we're having the Saturday after next. Would love to see you there, but totally understand if you have other plans, lemme know," click.
