I almost can't read this anymore. The way her future diw's mother is acting, I wouldn't go to that wedding on a bet! I would act like nothing is going on, and then go out of town that weekend, no phones, no nothing. I can't believe how you encourage these people to cow down to that sort of treatment.

re; Letter 1 - why couples counceling? From every indication in the letter the boyfriend is okay. The LW needs the help. She needs to work on her issues as an INDIVIDUAL and then pursue being a couple when she's in a better emotional space. Right now she's not there. This doesn't appear to be the bf's issues. Letter 2: the ladies are right on this one. Pull your funding (except maybe some of your son's expenses), sit back, relax and enjoy the wedding and watching the monster-in-law self distruct. A wedding is acually a couple hours out of one day. In the long run you will be the one that the couple will count on and want to spend time with. . . .that is if they can get away : )

The letter about the teacher brought up my worst nightmares as a parent. We had this situation with my bright, studious son. We followed all the things Annie recommended. I wish I had thought to mention a lawyer to the principal who was such a good listener, but who did nothing. My son barely survived 5th grade. His ego was severely bruised, his confidence shaken by the horrible woman who belittled and bullied him. He was seriously depressed - as a 10 year old! - and needed counseling. If it had not been for a brilliant, compassionate male teacher in 6th grade, he might have decided school was a bad idea and never finished high school. I count my advice to my son on dealing with this bad teacher by just getting through it, being the better person, and so on, as my major failure in parenting. I should have protected him. If I had known how bad it would get, I hope I would have. After that experience, I would NEVER let a child go through this again. Be firm, DEMAND a change to a new class, and yes, mention a lawyer. It would still be a good idea to discuss with the child why some people can be unpleasant (ill health, sadness of their own we don't know about, someone treated them this way and they don't know any better), but this is not enough when the mental and perhaps physical health of your child is at stake. PROTECT YOUR CHILD!

I'd like to know what kind of linguini-spined, limp-wristed wimp the LW raised and sent out into the world. What the hell is wrong with the groom? I would never allow my g/f's mother to treat any member of my family this way, and if my lady didn't back me up, I'd probably tell her I was reconsidering the marriage itself. Maybe this fellow ought to do some heavy thinking about what kind of family he is marrying into. This can only be a harbinger. It's his day, too, and if he doesn't stand up to his future M-I-L, it's only going to invite more abuse. Bullies never respond well to appeasement; it emboldens them. It doesn't matter if it's a wedding, a schoolyard, or an international dispute.

Re: Marcia Lauzon. Exactly. Acting to put a stop to this "teaching" would have done the other kids in her charge a big favor as well. If she was treating your son that way, chances are it was also happening to others in his class, as well as 5th-grade classes in prior and following years.

Re letter #1: The writer has experienced a sudden personality change that has her feeling emotions she intellectually knows are inappropriate. That could be a sign of hormonal/biochemical imbalances that could easily be addressed with medication. Depression isn't always "feeling sad."