This week, we answer a question about how to politely say no to a future mother-in-law.
“My question is how to say no to the mother of my fiancé. She and I have become close over the last two years, yet I can’t find a way to tell her no without being backed into a corner and behaving in a way I’m often not proud of. These scenarios range from things as unimportant as pie after dinner to the dress I’ll going to wear at my wedding.
“Now, I’m having trouble saying no to her offer of lending me her wedding dress. It was hand-made in 1977 by my fiancé’s Hungarian refugee grandmother ... I’ve sincerely thanked her for her offer, explained it doesn’t fit, explained it’s worth more as an intact family heirloom, explained it would be too hot, get ruined, et cetera, yet she continues to brush me off and say, 'You’ll change your mind.' ... Please help, I don’t want to ruin this relationship. We see them often and will have long lives together.”
