The husband was frustrated and said, “I think I need therapy.” We had been shopping for a birthday card for his mother. Her birthday is on Monday. Finding the right card was challenging. It had to strike the right balance: communicating something cheerful, yet not actually committing my husband to saying something that implies he loves his mother.

This year's birthday is a little more complicated than usual. The husband's brother has invited their mother out for a celebratory dinner, yet not invited the husband. The husband feels he has been snubbed and doesn't know how to respond otherwise.

I stay out of this. There's no fixing that family relationship. I have no idea why my brother-in-law hasn't invited my husband to the birthday dinner. I'm going to support my husband, but I won't engage with their family dyanamics.