There is an old saying, "Walk silently and carry a big stick."  How simple that sounds.  I took the passive road to discover that family took me to be a fool, stupid, or lacking.  Well that is family for you!

So now I no longer take the passive route and now I am a Captital B------ person.  So with family you really cannot win.  We do not get to pick and choose our family members.  And in truth we cannot always pick our in laws either.  Now I can see at times that walking peacefully along and carrying a big stick is well worth the effort.

So I made some interesting observations concerning family and for what it is worth here is my two cents on the situation.  Never give a direct answer to any question always leave them wondering if you agreed with them or didn't agree with them.  Never commit yourself in word in writing, and clearing state that No means No and you can't ague with NO!  (note here my yorkie Ming Ming will ague over everything and anything including no)

Never reveal a secret take it to your death bed, because the person who told you the secret tells everyone in the family.  I however tell people who say to me "don't tell so and so I told you this." I stop them at this point and tell them I don't want to hear it.  Walk away!

Always be honest, that doesn't mean be blunt and straight an attack their heart . If someone ask me "How's this suit fit," I always say honestly you should try another one on.

When All fails you simply cast a spell of what you sow so shall you reap on the family member smile and walk away.

If I have been absolutely no help to you it is a simple matter of non-committial of how to deal with family.  Now wasn't that easy ?

Always remember, "better to be thought a fool then to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.!"

    Shahban