Dear Emily,

My husband and I entertained his brother and wife for a month at our beach house in Costa Rica. We don't see my brother in law often as they live in So. Africa  and we live in the US. I have met my brother in law's wife once when they visited with us for three weeks in California and didn't care for her at all. When they visited with us in CR there was some tension as I think she is a selfish, self absorbed, insensitive woman who acted like a princess while they were there. My question is; Although my husband has received a note of thanks from his brother, should I expect to receive  a note of appreciation or thanks from her ? I didn't hear anything from her the last time they visited either.

-------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------

You can't expect to receive a note of thanks from anyone who is selfish, self-absorbed and insensitive. That's what makes these people so "special," because they lack good breeding -- or nature dealt them scads of badly mutated genes. Consider the source. In the future, if you have them as guests, you have every right to set a time-limit on visits (a month is a long time to spend with a boor) and not allow yourself to be treated like bellhops. I understand it's a sensitive issue because this is your brother-in-law's wife, but that doesn't mean you need to put up with a middle-aged Paris Hilton. You can be thankful that they live in South Africa, and not in Oregon. Here's a book I found on Amazon that might be helpful in managing difficult people:

Dealing with People You Can't Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst [Paperback]

Dr. Rick Brinkman (Author), Dr. Rick Kirschner  

Emily