Posted by finelinebob on May 17, 2004, at 17:59:30
In reply to Re: Advice on Handling a Mean Person? » Dinah, posted by Susan J on May 17, 2004, at 11:20:01
I think the neutral location suggestions are much better, Susan, than you offering to make the exchange. You don't want to get in between -- she'll bring as much grief to your life as she does to your brother.
Being polite is one thing; showing forgiveness is totally over the top ... and certainly worth a try. I imagine that **part** of her act is a search for vindication, so any apology or reply in kind by your brother is just going to support that. If he can figure out some way to say "I forgive you for subjecting our child to this, and I hope you can grow beyond your anger soon" or something more appropriate to the situation, perhaps that can be a way to both be polite and to disarm her in whatever she thinks she can do to cause him harm.
my $.02
flb
poster:finelinebob
thread:347794
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040517/msgs/347938.html