Editor’s Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers’ loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to publish her columns. These letters originally appeared in 1999.
Dear Ann Landers: My in-laws have a habit of coming to our home without calling first. There have been times when my mother-in-law has called me on the phone “just to chat” and never says a word about coming over. Then, she shows up at the door 10 minutes later with a goofy grin on her face. I’m sure she enjoys these surprise attacks.
My husband has asked his parents politely several times to call before coming over. One Sunday morning, they dropped by, and he refused to let them in, saying it wasn’t a good time. You’d think they would get the hint. They didn’t. I have come home from work on my lunch hour to find them in the house. We also have come home from work and seen evidence that they had been here.
My husband gave them a key to our previous house, but when we moved, I refused to let them have a spare. However, there is a key that we keep hidden outside for emergencies, and my husband told his parents where it is. He said apologetically, “They might need to get into the house in case of an emergency.”
Ann, what can I do about this galling situation? I’m at the end of my rope and totally out of patience with my in-laws. Please advise. I no longer can think rationally about this problem. — Ohio Nightmare Without End
Dear Ohio Nightmare: Your principal problem is not with your in-laws; it’s with your husband. Telling his parents where to find the hidden key was nothing short of a betrayal.
Find another place for the key (not the mailbox or under the doormat — that’s the first place thieves look).
Inform your husband in no uncertain terms that he is not to tell his parents of the new location.
If your in-laws show up again on a Sunday, tell them bluntly that you are not ready for company and to phone in the future, please, because you cannot entertain them properly when they just drop in.
Dear Ann Landers: I have a relative who has diabetes and must take insulin shots after every meal. He makes quite a production of it, testing his blood sugar level, preparing the injection and injecting himself at the table. This procedure is done in the homes of family members and friends and in restaurants. I can handle it, but several others cannot. The sight of blood and injections ruins the enjoyment of the meals for those with queasy stomachs.
This person is extremely sensitive, and his feelings would be crushed if he knew he was offending people. Your response in the paper would help make others who are afflicted with diabetes aware of how this sort of thing affects some of us. No name or city, please. — Mrs. Anonymous
Dear Mrs. Anon.: Your point is well taken. A person who would inject himself at the dinner table in the presence of others exhibits gross insensitivity and very poor manners.
Drugs are everywhere. They’re easy to get, easy to use and even easier to get hooked on. If you have questions about drugs, you need Ann Landers’ booklet, “The Lowdown on Dope.” To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
