DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughters play aggressive soccer. It’s understood, and infrequently within the rule ebook, that the dad and mom of 1 crew sit on one facet of the sector and the dad and mom of the opposite crew sit on the opposite facet.
A number of instances through the years, dad and mom from the opposite crew have sat on our facet. Normally it’s not a giant deal, however typically it makes issues awkward.
Throughout our final sport, half of the dad and mom from the opposite crew elected to sit down behind our crew so they may benefit from the sunshine, as their facet was in shade. They then proceeded to make snarky feedback to and about our gamers, and us, through the sport. After the sport, one of many dad and mom from the opposite crew tracked a guardian down to start an altercation for a perceived slight.
In my view, these are the explanations we’ve got the foundations that oldsters sit on completely different sides within the first place!
Is there one thing I can say to encourage them to sit down on their very own facet through the sport, or do good manners dictate that I simply sit silently by?
GENTLE READER: Oh, good manners have left the enjoying subject fully. As a result of these would dictate that oldsters could be trusted to sit down collectively at a sporting occasion of school-aged kids with out inflicting a scene.
In an try to reinstate decorum, Miss Manners suggests you flip your consideration towards shaming the opposite dad and mom into pleasantness, reasonably than implementing guidelines that encourage unhealthy habits. While you hear feedback about your self or the gamers, innocently reply, “Sorry, were you talking about us? Because we think both teams are doing really well, don’t you?”
If nothing else, it will infuriate them. Since that appears to be the purpose of all this anyway.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I belong to a gaggle of women who’re at the moment dwelling in america. Their citizenship standing varies.
Considered one of our girls comes from part of the world that’s now engaged in armed battle. She has usually spoken of the horrible carnage and lack of life, particularly the youngsters.
I wish to acknowledge her grief and despair, however I’m not fairly positive what is suitable. I don’t consider she’s misplaced any relations or those who she personally is aware of, so a condolence card doesn’t appear acceptable. And I’m sure that her politics and mine differ considerably, so getting into right into a political dialogue to indicate sympathy gained’t work.
She is in a lot ache when she speaks of the lack of innocence. Are you able to suggest something that may present her I care?
I’m pleasant with this girl however haven’t developed a robust relationship to her but.
GENTLE READER: You could be sympathetic to this girl’s ache, Miss Manners assures you, with out taking a stance on its supply.
“This is awful. I am so sorry” is all you want say, repeated as many instances as needed — and with growing emphasis if she tries to interact you in additional political dialogue.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her e-mail, [email protected]; or by way of postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
