I welcomed my son’s girlfriend, Zoe, into our family because he is in love. But she’s nasty and beneath us, and her family is even worse. The wedding is large and important, and I want everyone to enjoy it. So I emailed Zoe three simple guidelines. She came the next day and said, “If you show your face there, I won’t get married!” I didn’t mean to offend. I just mentioned that I had some rules. My three rules were:

1. Guest List Restrictions: Zoe’s uncle Steve and cousin Joey are not allowed due to their prior actions. This choice was made for everyone’s safety and happiness. 2. Zoe’s family has a limited number of plus ones. Zoe’s family can only bring immediate family members to keep things simple. Friends and distant relatives are gone.

3. To prevent confrontation, some members of Zoe’s family will be placed apart from the head table and our side of the family. I’m confident I wasn’t out of line; I was only being a protective mother wanting to keep her son’s wedding from becoming a joke. Am I wrong to create these boundaries? Catherine