DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I have pet rats. They are trained domestic rats that bear little resemblance to the kind that live in subways.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We had four children about five years apart, lots of gifts under the tree, and a very calm, enjoyable, fun-filled Christmas morning. It was a family time. Dad gave someone a gift. I... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Shrugs have always been poor manners, or at least that is what I was taught. When asked a question, you should give a proper verbal answer.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a 39-year-old wife, turning 40 in 2015. I am very happily married, moderately successful and childless.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter was 7.5 months pregnant when the ultrasound relayed that her baby had passed away. Her baby shower was around the corner, and we have many gifts here.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Nowadays when I call someone, the voice mail message often instructs me to "hang up and text me." This is said in a surprised, aggravated tone, as if I were violating an established... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it possible to discourage or redirect adult relatives away from the practice of making Christmas lists?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My fiance has a skull collection and has found a bride/groom skull set he would like to use as our wedding cake topper.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My niece (23 years old) regularly texts during movies. When I was at a movie with her and my partner, I asked her not to text during the movie because it would upset my partner. She... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received an invitation to a "black tie gala event" to be held by a federal government agency.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: At a church supper, I clearly heard an acquaintance say that all suicide is because of self-pity.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: If I'm asked to wait in an office setting or while waiting in someone's home, is it rude of me to get up and look at paintings on the wall or book spines on a book shelf (not touchi... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For years, my husband and I entertained guests for holidays with gusto, pleasure and enjoyment. Now that we are in our 70s, we decided to keep quiet and not send any written invites... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I own a home with my boyfriend of six years, and I love entertaining. Mostly, this consists of family parties; his family lives nearby, mine a bit further. We all get along very wel... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a dear friend who periodically sends out texts to everyone on her smartphone contact list for holidays: "Happy New Year!", "Happy 4th!", etc.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a widow who has been seeing a widower for over a year. He is such a lovely and distinguished gentleman. We are planning on being married soon.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it proper to leave a spoon in a cup or glass while drinking coffee, tea or iced tea?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: From the perspective of a retired business executive, I do not find complaints about delays in hiring decisions unusual.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For the past 10 years, my family has been celebrating Thanksgiving at my sister and brother-in-law's home. Now we have received an email from our brother-in-law about how to dress w... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I'm not sure how to handle it when my sister-in-law keeps bringing up how her 7-month-old baby boy looks like my 4-year-old son. She has gone so far as to take a picture of a pictur... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: The sense of private space seems to have changed radically over the last several years. Everyone now seems so intent on texting, but there is still the person on public transportati... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: For the last two years, my husband and I have hosted Thanksgiving at our home (about 16 people total). Every year he asks that no one bring anything, and he always loses out. Everyo... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I married this past year. After the wedding, we immediately began trying to become pregnant to fulfill our dreams of having a child.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend who calls or comes by only when she has no one else to hang out with.... more

Fraud on the social scene! It has come to Miss Manners' attention that invitations that are deliberately and shockingly misleading are being issued to unsuspecting people.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In recent months it seems that more and more men are growing facial hair in a variety of styles.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My spouse and I married out of state in 2010, after several happy years together, because our home state does not recognize same-sex marriage.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was taken aback by my elders' reactions to an anecdote about an encounter with a strange man who accosted me in a public place.... more